We know that all things work for good for those who love God,
who are called according to his purpose.
For those he foreknew he also predestined
to be conformed to the image of his Son,
so that he might be the firstborn
among many brothers.
Saint Paul saw God's hand in his own life and in the lives of the thousands who came to the Gospel as he announced it in synagogues and street corners throughout the Roman Empire. It was not the hand of an arbitrary demon who works havoc and causes chaos. Rather, the LORD of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, David, Nehemiah, Ezra, and the Maccabees was completing the work he had begun in Israel and Judah many hundreds of years before. As the Apostle heralded the Good News, God's work was being finished.
Paul believed the time had come; or to use his phrase, "the fullness of time had come."
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to ransom those under the law, so that we might receive adoption. Gal 4:4-5
That time was not like the spring's arrival after winter; it was not the rising of dough or the browning of a cake in the oven. There was nothing automatic or mechanical about this time's arrival. Rather, God was completing the work he had begun in creating the universe out of nothing. The work had become more wonderful when he raised up his own image in his creatures, Adam and Eve. And it was closer yet when the Virgin was born.
The Apostle watched his converts hear the Word and come to believe it. He saw them turn away from the nonsense of pagan idolatry and pharisaic obstinacy to believe that a crucified man had been raised from the dead for their salvation. They were being "conformed to the image of his Son" according to a plan that was as old as time itself.
Having closed another millennium behind us, with memories of former greatness which will never be restored by MAGA, Manifest Destiny, or cultural imperialism, many Americans wonder, "Are there no more enemies to destroy; where do we go from here; are we going anywhere?"
The Catholic Church, rooted in Biblical history, commissioned to announce the gospel to all the nations, knows where we are in God's plan. Our daily prayer places us comfortably within the present, between the past and the future:
"...as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen."
If we don't know how long it will take, (Saint Paul apparently thought it would be complete within his lifetime); if we expect other nations to rise in power and dominance as the United States is eclipsed by history, we know that God's plan cannot fail. If the Lord can raise a man from the dead and place him at his right hand as ruler and judge of the universe, he can clearly handle our challenges. We don't need to know how long; we need only to know what we should do today.
Today we celebrate the birth of the Mother of God. We must do this; first of all because we celebrated her Immaculate Conception last December; and secondly, because we believe Jesus was born of a woman in the fullness of time. And that woman was Mary, a very real woman whom we can locate in time -- "In the days of Herod, King of Judea" -- and place, Galilee.
As we commemorate her birth, we find our purpose within God's time, place, and plan. That knowledge alone, is an Amazing Grace.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.