Grateful Now
Years ago, my wife and I attended a concert of Christian
singer/songwriter Allen Asbury. In his
witness in between songs, he was speaking about prayer as he had a popular song
out at the time titled, ‘Somebody’s Praying You Through’. He emphasized that we need to trust in how God
answers our prayer. He said that God
always answers prayer in one of three ways: the first is “yes”. That’s the easy answer for us to accept
because we get what we want when we want it.
The second answer at times is: “Not now.” That’s an answer that our impatient self
doesn’t want to hear. God is asking for persistence
and perseverance. It is the third answer
that is the hardest. It is not “no”. Go never tells us “No”. But there are times when He answers: “I have
something better in mind.”
That’s the hard one because it feels like “no”. It feels even like He didn’t listen at
all. When we get that answer, we are
typically invited to share in His suffering.
We are being invited to the cross.
It is something that Jesus cautioned us about, “Then Jesus said to
his disciples, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his
cross, and follow me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his
life for my sake will find it.” Matthew 16:24-25
I try to remember that sound advice, especially when I
get the “something better” answer. It
would be easier if we could see right away how His answer is better than
ours. In fact, most of the time it is a
struggle, especially when the one we are praying for is in dire need of some
form of healing of body, mind or spirit.
How could someone not being healed be something better?
We know that He has the power. “And then a leper approached, did him
homage, and said, “Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean. He stretched out his hand, touched him, and
said, “I will do it. Be made clean.” His leprosy was cleansed immediately.”
Matthew 8:2-3 We don’t know with our
finite minds why Jesus sometimes doesn’t seem to will a healing. Most of the time we won’t know this side of
the resurrection. We know that His ways
are not our ways. We know that we are
looking short-term, and He is looking out into eternity. It’s times like these that we are being
invited to demonstrate our acceptance that Jesus is God, and we are not.
There is though a sure way to not get caught up in the
answer. And that is to follow the advice
of a holy person, Blessed Solanus Casey.
Casey kept his heart open for whatever God’s response to his prayer
would be by thanking God ahead of time.
If you ponder it, you’ll see that it is an unconditional response that
is well-suited to God’s unconditional love for us.
I don’t have a bucket list. That is not to say that I don’t have some dreams
yet of places to go, things to do, and
people to meet. I know I have even said
some of them out loud because my son Nathan came over to visit last summer and
said, “If we’re ever really going to a Notre Dame home football game it should
be this year!” I didn’t hesitate. And so, as you read this, Nathan and I are in
South Bend, Indiana soaking it all in. Since
this is very likely a once in a lifetime thing, you know that I’m praying for
safe travels, good weather, and an Irish victory. And despite my own personality, I’m not going
to worry about any of it. I’m grateful
now.
The other day when I first started writing this essay
I was inspired by the Holy Spirit on the direction it would go. At the same time, I looked up and out my
study window I saw the spectacular sunset picture above. I think it was God’s way of smiling.
His Peace <><
Deacon Dan
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