Monday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time
How does one distinguish between coincidence and a sign from God? Often it is only looking back on events, and, at other times, it is our willingness to see the divine action at work in our life.
In our first reading, Cain is jealous of his brother Abel. Rather than understanding that sometimes when you do what is right, you do not always get the praise you feel you deserve, he gets angry. God says to Cain: “Why are you so resentful and crestfallen? If you do well, you can hold up your head; but if not, sin is a demon lurking at the door: yet you can be his master.” We tell the seminarians: You can get bitter or get better. We might be doing God’s will and not feel anything. By receiving no outward sign, we should not infer disfavor but ask for greater faith to seek God for God’s sake.
In fact, God’s signs can be unclear at first. As I approached priesthood, my hometown pastor offered me the chalice of the priest who baptized me. There was a bit of a caveat because I was not the first to receive them: another man from my parish was given them when ordained. However, he left the priesthood and returned them. Recounting this story to my spiritual director in seminary, he thought it was a sign that God wanted me to be a priest and to make reparation for another who felt unable to live it. I then mentioned how my Benedict habit (the black robes we wear), my cuculla (the choir habit), and even my alb were all from monks who left. He replied: “How many signs do you need?!”
For those with mature faith, the signs are apparent; for those unwilling to trust God no sign is good enough. Let us all, then, ask God to increase our faith, hope, and love.
Reflection by Fr. Pachomius Meade, OSB
Posted in Articles for Ordinary Time, Daily Reflections