Mar. 17 - Friday
Genesis 37:3-4,12-13,17-28Readings
What do Reuben and St. Patrick have in common? Strategy. Reuben used great wisdom when he saw how fiercely his brothers hated Joseph. Realistically, there was no way he could convince them to not harm Joseph—they were plotting to kill him! So working within the limitations that he faced, Reuben came up with a suggestion that led to Joseph being taken to Egypt. We know the rest of the story, where Joseph in due time rescued the children of Israel from famine.
In a similar way, St. Patrick, whose feast we celebrate today, demonstrated practical wisdom from the time he was kidnapped and brought to Ireland, through the time he escaped, up to the time he returned to Ireland as a bishop. As a youthful shepherd slave, he learned to rely on the vision God had for his life, even if he didn’t see how this vision could possibly come true. He learned how to make do with his situation, but never gave up his hope in Christ. And when he saw the opportunity for freedom, he seized it.
We too face situations in which we cannot possibly see the ultimate outcome. That doesn’t mean we have to give up. Developing a strategy in which we do the best we can within the circumstances we face doesn’t mean that God has abandoned us or won’t bless us. If “compromise” is the best option available, use it. A decision to let another person handle a job we’ve done in our parish for years could lead to a new ministry we never imagined possible. Not needing to have the last word in a dispute could be the beginning of a peaceful resolution. We may not see how our decision to spend time with the office outcast instead of our favorite friend may influence our entire workplace. In each situation, we do what we can and leave the rest up to God.
Neither Rueben nor St. Patrick could foresee the effects their decisions would have on history as they worked within the limitations that they faced. Like them, we can hold out great confidence and hope in God’s power to work miracles, even in constrained situations.
“Great God, I want to praise your power, presence, and persistence in using whatever gifts I have to build up your kingdom. Give me a heart to let you use me as only you know best.”
posted by Thomas Cagurangan @ 8:48 PM
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