“Let nothing perturb you, nothing frighten you. All things pass ...”

“I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I just wish He didn't trust me so much.”
--Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta: (Foundress of the Missionaries of Charity)

Gospel Text: (Lk 13:31-35)

Some Pharisees came to Jesus and said,
“Go away, leave this area because Herod wants to kill you.”
He replied, “Go and tell that fox,
‘Behold, I cast out demons and I perform healings today and tomorrow,
and on the third day I accomplish my purpose.
Yet I must continue on my way today, tomorrow, and the following day,
for it is impossible that a prophet should die
outside of Jerusalem.’

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem,
you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you,
how many times I yearned to gather your children together
as a hen gathers her brood under her wings,
but you were unwilling!
Behold, your house will be abandoned.
But I tell you, you will not see me until the time comes when you say,
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.”

Before a building is erected, plans are drawn up. Construction proceeds in an established order so that a sturdy, safe edifice takes form. Similarly, God has plans. He has a plan for your life, your neighbor’s life, and for the life of every human being. In its most general form, that plan involves our cooperating with him in accomplishing his desires, purposes, and goals. He delights in it, actually, for he knows that his plan will proceed according to his intentions—even if we can’t see how at this point.

Jesus trusted in God’s plan. He was secure in what he was about, where he was to go, and what he was to do. He was confident that his Father would protect him—that he would not die outside Jerusalem—and he was unwilling to turn from this plan simply because Herod (or anyone else) tried to scare him away.

Few of us live in that kind of long-range certainty, but we can have some assurance of what God wants for us today. Ask him first thing in the morning, “How do you want me to live today?” Pause for a few moments and give him time to answer. He may give you one word, such as “peace” or “hope.” Or he may bring to mind a relationship that needs a little bit of work. Or he may guide you to think about how you can show compassion to a particular co-worker. Most of the time, the answer will revolve around your daily duties and responsibilities. And so you do them, confident in what you’re about. Ask the Spirit to make you resolute and unwilling to turn aside from his established plan for your life.

But sometimes, God has a surprise agenda. Trust him! Let the Spirit guide and direct you.