God's Providence
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. (Part III)
Reading (Matthew 6: 25-33)
Do not worry about what you will eat or drink, or what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, yet your Father feeds them. Consider the lilies of the field. They neither toil nor spin, yet even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. Your Father knows that you need all these things. Seek first the kingdom of God, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Song (Psalm 23)
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
In green pastures he gives me rest.
He leads me beside still waters;
He refreshes my soul.
He leads me in right paths for his name's sake.Even though I walk through a dark valley,
I fear no evil;
For you are with me
With your rod and staff
To give me comfort.You prepare a table for me
In the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life.
And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
For years to come.
Reflection
Because we are of the earth, we cannot see eternity. In the midst of the cares of this world, we cannot see that we are guided by God's loving hand. All the troubles in our life are passing; they will all be forgotten in eternity. We will look back and understand what we cannot see now: that God's providence surrounds us, and he will bring all things to fulfillment in his own way. Nothing that we can accomplish for ourselves compares with what God has prepared for us. And nothing will prevent him from bringing to completion his great work of love.
Prayer
God our Father, you have nurtured and sustained us from our very beginning. Without you we are nothing. You guide us with a sure hand and with steadfast love. May we not be turned away from you by the passing cares of this world, but may we remain faithful to doing your will until we are united with you in heaven, where we will worship you forever.