He interests Himself in all thy anxieties

“He [God] has another spiritual voice, the teaching of wisdom, which is incomprehensible to man. […]But the voice is not only ordered to the teaching of men who hear it, but also to the perfection of natural works which happen following the command of divine wisdom.” (St. Thomas Aquinas Commentary on the Book of Job, ch. 37)

Our bible gives us what is known as Wisdom literature from which we gain instruction on wise living. The book of Job, which we’ve been hearing in daily mass readings, is one of the wisdom books. It is through Job that we can embrace the magnanimous power of our Creator, our God, as He reminds Job that He truly is in charge: “where were you when I founded the earth?” (Job 38:4) etc. 

Most people live with some sort of inner turmoil. They may think, “but Job was a righteous man” while voices in their mind pester of their own unrighteousness. Do you feel no one understands you? Or have stirrings in the mind or heart that you are unable to explain and have no mentor to aid you? Or feel God’s made you for a mission, but your circumstances do not enable you to fulfill it?  Do you feel purposeless, useless, getting in the way of others? Do you live with an underlying doom of shame, afraid people will know your past, know you are imperfect? With all of our wounds, it can be difficult to believe that an almighty God is interested in our smallness, our insignificance, and our imperfection. Yet His Word makes clear we are chosen to be His, as beautifully explained by St. John Henry Cardinal Newman:   

“The most winning property of our Saviour’s mercy (if it is right so to speak of it), is its dependence on time and place, person and circumstance; in other words, its tender discrimination. It regards and consults for each individual as he comes before it.” […] 

 “How gracious is this revelation of God’s particular providence to those who seek Him! […]  “God beholds thee individually, whoever thou art. He “calls thee by thy name.” He sees thee, and understands thee, as He made thee. He knows what is in thee, all thy own peculiar feelings and thoughts, thy dispositions and likings, thy strength and thy weakness. He views thee in thy day of rejoicing, and thy day of sorrow. He sympathises in thy hopes and thy temptations. He interests Himself in all thy anxieties and remembrances, all the risings and fallings of thy spirit. He has numbered the very hairs of thy head and the cubits of thy stature. He compasses thee round and bears thee in his arms; He takes thee up and sets thee down. He notes thy very countenance, whether smiling or in tears, whether healthful or sickly. He looks tenderly upon thy hands and thy feet; He hears thy voice, the beating of thy heart, and thy very breathing. Thou dost not love thyself better than He loves thee. Thou canst not shrink from pain more than He dislikes thy bearing it; and if He puts it on thee, it is as thou would put it on thyself, if thou art wise, for a greater good afterwards. Thou art not only His creature (though for the very sparrows He has a care, and pitied the “much cattle” of Nineveh), thou art man redeemed and sanctified, His adopted son, favoured with a portion of that glory and blessedness which flows from Him everlastingly unto the Only-begotten. Thou art chosen to be His, even above thy fellows who dwell in the East and South. Thou wast one of those for whom Christ offered up His last prayer, and sealed it with His precious blood. What a thought is this, a thought almost too great for our faith!” (Blessed Cardinal John Henry Newman, Sermon 9)

Our Lord wants to be part of the small stuff of our life. He wants to form us in His wisdom by which His love will perfect all of our acts. He has chosen us from the beginning of time to be loved by Him (John 15:16), and this is His intent for you. We may be afraid to look at the remnants of our mangled heart, but God isn’t.

Also pray that our priests, religious and the worldwide Church experience deeply this love of God’s tender gaze upon them. 

Lord Jesus, hear our prayer for the spiritual renewal of bishops, priests, deacons, brothers, sisters, lay ministers and seminarians, especially those of our own diocese. We praise you for giving their ministry to the Church. In these days, renew them with the gifts of Your Spirit.  Give them Your love for one another and for all their brothers and sisters in You. For You love them, Lord Jesus and we love and pray for them in Your Holy Name. Amen.

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam 😊

(Image by Ilya Repin, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)