After all is said and done

Fr. Roy  Cimagala

WE need to remind ourselves often about this truth. After we have said and done everything according to what we think and feel is good and right in our life, in the end it is always God’s will and ways, his word and law that will stand firm and are followed.

In other words, no matter how we play the game of life, whether we follow and cooperate with God’s will or not, it will always be God’s providence that will prevail. Of course, this is a mystery, but a mystery is always the truth even if we do not understand or cannot figure it out.

Right in the Old Testament, references to this truth are already aplenty. From the Book of Proverbs, we read: “There are many devices in a man’s heart. Nevertheless it is the counsel of the Lord that shall stand.” (19,21) A similar passage is given in the Book of Isaiah: “My counsel shall stand and I will do all my pleasure.”

In the New Testament, we have from the Book of Revelations the following words: “These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings, and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.” (17,14)

Christ himself said it very explicitly: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.” (Mt 24,35) The same idea is reiterated in another part of the gospel: “Till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished.” (Mt 5,18)

How important and crucial therefore it is that we try our best to know and do God’s will all the time! In fact, that is what we ask for in the Lord’s prayer, when we say: “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

For sure, God’s will and ways are already given to us, though it may continue to contain mysteries. “Who has known the mind of the Lord?” (Rom 11,34) St. Paul asks, telling us in effect that God’s will and ways will always be inscrutable to us. And yet, in spite of that, our attitude should be to just try our best to know and live it, even if we may not know and live it fully.

It’s in the trying that matters. It shows that we are corresponding to God’s gifts of faith, hope and charity. As long as we try our best, even if there are mistakes and setbacks in our efforts, we should not worry too much. God will take care of everything.

This is the attitude we should cultivate in life. We focus more on what we are supposed to do as we understand it from God’s law and not just from our own theories. In the end, it’s God’s will, ways, word and law that will prevail.

As the Book of Ecclesiastes puts it: “Nothing is new under the sun.” (1,9) God is control of everything, including our errors, sins and stupidities.

E-mail: roycimagala@gmail.com