"Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How inscrutable are his judgments and how unsearchable are his ways!" (From Romans 11: 33 – 36)
God's ways are not our ways. His thoughts are not our thoughts. As far as the heaven is from the earth, so far is God's wisdom from ours.
Can God be trusted? Yes indeed!
"I will place the key of the House of David on Eliakim's shoulder; when he opens, no one shall shut, when he shuts, no one shall open." (Isaiah 22: 19 – 23)
I learned that the above scripture foreshadows the promise of Jesus Christ to Peter in Matthew 16: 18 – 19"
"And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.
I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (Matthew 16: 18 – 19)
"Lord our God, all truth is from you, and you alone bring oneness of heart. Give your people the joy of hearing your word in every sound and of longing for your presence more than life itself. May all the attractions of a changing world serve only to bring us the peace of your kingdom which this world does not give ….." (Alternate Prayer 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time)
All truth is from God; so is all goodness. In every sound, God is speaking to us. He is present in every event. Help us Father to find you in everything. May we long for your presence more than life itself.
Some of the attractions of a changing world:
The world cannot offer the peace of God.
"Father, help us to seek the values that will bring us lasting joy in this changing world. In our desire for what you promise make us one in mind and heart." (Prayer on the 21st Sunday of Ordinary Time)
What values bring lasting joy?
Everything is changing in the world all the time. The only constant and certainty is change. God has promised us eternal life. The values that bring us joy in this world are the values that help us focus on eternal life.
"You have one Father, your Father in heaven; you have one teacher: the Lord Jesus Christ." (Matthew 23: 9,10)
Father, I rejoice to call you Father. What a joy and consolation to know that God is our Father every single minute.
Lord Jesus, you are a great Teacher. Open my eyes to your truth.
"Blessed be Yahweh who has not left you today without anyone to redeem you. May his name be praised in Israel." (Ruth 4: 14)
God rewards goodness and faithfulness. God rewarded Ruth and Naomi.
"I will never fail you. I will never forsake you." (Hebrews 13: 5-6)
"You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind…..You must love your neighbor as yourself." (Matthew 22: 37 – 38)
Most Holy Spirit, make us a genuine and great lover of God and neighbor.