This is a reflection on the Mass readings of the day.
In today’s second reading from the book of Thessalonians, Paul speaks of “endurance in hope.”
Perhaps we don’t always hope as we should.
The world, shattered as it is by the original rebellion of man against God, and the ongoing chaos cause by the sins of pride and sensuality, appears to be spiraling downards.
There is something that should give us, we may say, an extra dose of hope, of which we perhaps do not often think. On the one hand, for the core of our hope, it is well to remember that this life with all its chaos is passing, we are pilgrims, and that we will find true joy in our eternal home in Heaven. But there is another beautiful reality that should also support our hope.
That reality is that God is the Lord of history, and even though humanity is sometimes ruled by evil people, God Himself is arranging all circumstances, evil ones caused by those who are evil and good ones cause by Himself and those who are good, into precisely the right order to favor the salvation of as many persons as possible. And, in precisely the best order for our lives, in which we are called to imitate His Son Jesus Christ, to love in joy and sacrifice.
Cyrus, the leader of the Persians mentioned in the first reading, was a pagan. Although he did not know God, God called upon him to free the Israelites at the time when, in His wisdom, He wanted to bring their punishment of exile in Babylon to an end.
Cyrus did not know God. But still, he formed a key part of God’s plan, and God led him.
In the Gospel passage, Jesus teaches that we must obey civil authorities, even when they are godless, as long as they do not lead us into sin–paying taxes, for example. And indeed, the Lord of history ordained the rule of Caesar in Jerusalem at the time when the brutal Romans were a needed factor for the violent sacrifice of His Son.
Think also of Constantine, the Cyrus, if you will, of the Christian era. In the early fourth century, God intervened directly with him, a pagan emperor, when He ordained that the years of Christian martyrdom and persecution in the Roman Empire were to come to an end.
Jesus Christ is Universal King, King of the Universe, King of all that happens in time. He does give full and ample space to human freedom, and allows the terrible consequences of our free choice of sin. In the end, though, it is He–the omnipotent Chess Master, we may say–who arranges history for the eternal benefit of the Church and His faithful ones.
Ideas for conversation with the Lord: Think of the political realities and world events that most concern you. Consider where Christians are suffering, and where evil persons or principles rule. Ask Jesus if He has these circumstances well in hand. Ask Him why He allows evil in the world, from the perspective of eternal salvation. And ask Him, the Lord of history, for mercy upon our fallen world, to guide events to a happy outcome and above all, to the eternal salvation of as many as possible.
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