Is it very hard?

July 5, Wednesday of the thirteenth week in Ordinary Time
Daily Readings: 1st Reading: Genesis 21:5, 8–20a; Gospel: Matthew 8:28–34

In the faith life, understanding and accepting the plan of God always seem to be hard. If we meditate on it, we get a serious question.

In today’s first reading, Sarah, in her old age, gave birth to a son. It was Sarah who insisted Abraham get a descendant for him through Hagar. Once she gave birth to a son, she didn’t want the son of Hagar the Egyptian to be in the house. She urges Abraham to send them away. It disturbs Abraham very much.

On the other hand, God also instructs Abraham to just listen to Sarah's words and send them both into the wilderness. It is very hard to understand and accept.

In today’s gospel, too, Jesus heals the two possessed men. It is good. On the other hand, he allowed the demons to enter the pigs, and they all died. Here, the people who had pig herding as a means of life's sustenance would struggle.

In both cases, God’s plan is very hard to understand and accept. If we are patient enough to find the end of the story, we can understand God’s plan. In both cases, the events were very painful. The child and Hagar suffer in the desert for water and life. The swineherds suffer because their livelihood is lost.

But the end of the story is different. In the first case, Hagar and her child are saved, and they become a big clan.

In the second event, the pig and sea are seen as dwelling places for demons. They are removed from the face of the earth in Jesus’ presence. It is not hard to understand and accept God’s plan. God’s plan is always very simple. It is just life-giving.

In our lives too, we don’t need to question his plans for us. Just believe that all his plans for us are good and life-giving.