July/25/2022
As men and women of faith we often encounter hardships or other occurrences in life that we don’t understand. We see great catastrophes, and horrific wrongs being done in the world and ask “Why is God allowing this to occur?” We pray for intervention, or at least an answer, yet despite our pleading, and questioning, we can’t hear an answer, or understand God’s reasoning in allowing such a terrible occurrence. In truth, we are often shown the good as it rises from the terrible things we have faced, and in those times when we don’t get a glimpse of it, it is because we can’t understand or aren’t capable of seeing, what God’s hand is constructing.
“Jesus answered him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.””
John 13:7 ESV
It is understandable that we might not comprehend the complex, the massively horrific, or the far reaching events in life, but there are simpler things that befuddle us as well. Our opening scripture reference is Christ’s response to Simon Peter when he questioned why Jesus would wash his feet. He just didn’t understand why his rabbi, the Son of God, would stoop to wash his feet. Read the reasoning that Jesus gave Peter…
“When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.”
John 13:12-16 ESV
Although not a catholic, I was watching television shortly after Pope Frances was selected. I was trying to comprehend who this man was, and how he would lead the Catholic Church. I didn’t know anything about him, other than he was now the leader of the largest church in the world, but here he was, making his way through a crowded plaza, when suddenly he stopped before a man who was obviously a beggar, or street person, and signaled for something to be brought to him as he knelt down at this man’s feet. Then a bowl and a cloth appeared from the crowd, and he took off the man’s shoes and started washing his feet. The look on his face was one of compassionate love, and the man whose feet were being washed was overcome with emotion by act. It was a powerful moment, but it wasn’t over yet. As he gently cradled the man’s feet, and dried them, he did something else… he bent down low and kissed them.
The lesson of the foot washing that Simon Peter, and the other disciples learned was being shown to the world of faith once again, and it was just as impactful. The original mystery of Christ’s humility was demonstrated for us, and the lesson became real again.
“If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.”
John 13:17 ESV
Some things we see in the world, like the beheading of saints on a beach in Libya, because they wouldn’t renounce their faith in Jesus, or the capture, abduction, and rape of school girls in Africa because of their belief in Jesus Christ. These are things we can’t begin to understand while they are occurring, and as we watch or hear of them, they torture our senses; if terrible enough, they can sometimes challenge our faith, with their unanswered cruelty and inhumanity, but we are meant to remain patiently rooted in Jesus… our hope and promise.
“For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.”
Romans 8:22-25 ESV
So whether we lack understanding in the events of the present, or the past, they are meant to teach us lessons of encouragement, faith, hope, and the good that is being worked through them; a good that might escape us momentarily. But, it remains our belief that God’s purpose in all things will eventually reveal itself in full. Are we strong enough in our faith to withstand the overwhelming evil of certain events as we wait for understanding? Are we patient and hopeful enough in the more subtle lessons of faith to find the root of our hope in them?
“For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.”
Romans 15:4 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for working all things together for good, and for teaching us to lean on you, and our faith, as we wait to receive an understanding of your plan and purpose in them. Help us Lord to wait patiently for the answer to the mysteries we find in so many life events that appear to us to be contrary to your love, and goodness. Give us to embrace the belief of giants in faith, so that we can wait patiently for your revelation, and the instruction we will receive. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God, for you are the essence of truth, and goodness. Praised be your name for each time you wash our feet, and bless us with the answer to our questions regarding such mysteries of faith. Merciful are you who will one day dry the tears of the martyrs, and bless them for eternity. Father, wash us clean of sin with the blood of Jesus, and seat us at your Holy table where we can know the answer to all things that have escaped us, and where we will bask in the glory of your grace forever more.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
Isaiah 55:8-9 ESV
Rich Forbes