God Foresees



Divine Providence:  Divine = of God    Pro = for    Video = to see, seeing

When pondering the awesome goodness of God, I recall a time when I would often be prompted by the Holy Spirit to do small acts of sacrifice or hidden generosity. I use to practice the discipline of giving until it hurt a little. I usually did this by letting go of a piece of clothing I was still enjoying.

I remember one morning gathering food and clothes for a local food bank.  I packed up the boxes and all the kids and began the drive to the church. On my way out of the house I heard in my heart, "Give $50.00".  A monetary gift wasn't part of my plan and I felt that I was already being generous, so I ignored this idea inspiration. As I drove I heard again in my heart, "$50.00". This idea that wasn’t mine, but it wasn’t going away. So, I thought about it carefully, rationally and came to the conclusion that I could not, for practical reasons, give away $50.00.  We only had a few more dollars than that in the checking account and pay day was few days out. I knew I would need milk, diapers and so forth. No, God wasn’t asking this of me. I carried on, turning up the music trying to forget that small persistent Voice.

 I arrived at the food bank and delivered my gifts. I climbed back into the van not feeling at all satisfied with my good will offering. I sat there paralyzed by an uneasy, guilt-ish feeling. I heard once more, "$50.00". I thought, "I’ll give them $25 just to clear my conscience".

Not knowing how I was going to explain this to my husband, I wrote a check for the full $50.00 and handed it to the volunteer. Instantly, I felt levitating joy! Having done God’s will, I wasn’t worried about milk, my husband or anything else.

Later that very day I received an extremely belated birthday card from my mother-in- law and a check for 50.00. Also, there was an unexpected rebate check for $50.00! My husband arrived home that night with a surprise gift card to a local restaurant given to him from his boss in recognition for his long hours. It, too, was valued at $50.00.

God had long ago planned on using me to participate in His providing for those who would visit the food bank. He had also previously set into action a plot to astonish me with an unforgettable lesson on Divine Providence. God had long foreseen every detail of this day. And every detail of this day, so many years ago, continues to remind me that God's care is real and that His generosity will never be outdone.

Luke 6: 38 "Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down and overflowing with be poured onto your lap.”  

Saint Anselm of Canterbury's prayer of an ungrateful soul:

O merciful Almighty Father, who pourest down Ty benefits upon us: forgive the thankfulness with which we have requited Thy Goodness! 
We have remained before Thee with dead, unfeeling hearts, unkindled with love of Thy gentle and enduring goodness. Turn Thou to us, O merciful Father.
Make us with our whole hearts to hunger and to thirst for Thee - with all our longing to desire Thee. Make us with our whole hearts to serve Thee, and Thee alone! with our whole zeal to seek those things well-pleasing in Thy sight! _ for the sake of Thine Only-Begotten Son, to whom, with Thee and with the Holy Ghost, be all honor and all glory, Lord, forever-more. Amen. 

Hide and Seek in the Garden.

John 20: 14 - 16 .... she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. ¹⁵ Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” ¹⁶ Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew,^[a] “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher). 


Above is the Biblical scene I meditate upon most while praying the first Glorious Mystery of the Rosary, The Resurrection. I favor this conversation between Mary Magdalene and our Risen Lord, because it illustrates how powerful the sound of one's name is when called by Jesus.

 In the preceding verses we learn that M. Magdalene has already announced to Peter and John that the Body was missing. Not finding Jesus in the tomb, both Apostles return home to their hideouts. M. Magdalene, however, will not leave. She shall continue looking for Her Lord, seeking Him in the garden where she had left Him 3 days before.

M. Magdalene is distraught with the idea that someone could have carried Jesus' Body away and nothing will break her grief-filled preoccupation with finding her beloved Jesus. Jesus, Himself, compassionately approaches M. Magdalene and inquires why she is crying and for whom she is looking. Empathy & consolation is not what she seeks and therefore does not rest to listen.

Though M. Magdalene addresses Jesus, she does not see Him for who He is...The Resurrection! She speaks with Jesus, yet does not hear His Voice. Once His humanity veiled His divinity from so many strangers. Now, His glory veils His humanity even from the closest of friends.
"Mary." 
Jesus names His creation! Suddenly, in that instant His creation knows Him! Only now, by the familiar call of her name does Mary see Jesus. When Jesus pronounces, "Mary", the Word communicates the fullness of their relationship.  He is recognized and they are reunited! You see, only Jesus Her Lord, could speak her name in a divine tone.....the sweet sound of God calling to attention and in His direction one of His own.

Jesus doesn't want to offer comfort, aid and charity to His Mary Magdalene. His intention is to reveal Himself to one who seeks Him. Beginning here, here in a garden....in a garden, just where Adam played the first game of hide and seek with God...Jesus begins the " finding game" ANEW!

More on Adam, The New Gardener and the Garden of Eden another time........:)