Trusting in God’s Wisdom

HOMILY: Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Matthew 16:21-27

3 September 2023 

Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez, AA

Had your house ever been on fire? Had you ever experienced being robbed? Had you ever had business failure, broken heart, loss of a loved one? These are just a few of the painful experiences of life. The effects of these events can be devastating to a person, not just physically, but mentally, emotionally and spiritually. More often than not, people who wish to sympathise with us would say: “Be strong! Don’t lose faith. Accept God’s will.” Sometimes you can just…(beep) “How can this be God’s will?” “Does He want us hurting and struggling?”

On this Sunday’s readings, we hear all about God’s will and how it may not conform to our own ideas of what is right and what is just. In Jeremiah, we hear how the prophet complains to God saying: “You have duped me!” (Jeremiah 20:7) He did not appreciate that after he followed God’s will, he was constantly subjected to mockery and ridicule. When he conveyed God’s message to people he was the subject of derision and reproach. He was mocked and detested. Jeremiah is so angry that he attempted to stop following the will of God. In the gospel, Peter is displeased by Jesus’ news of His impending suffering and death at the hands of the Jewish leaders. He rebukes Jesus saying: “God forbid, Lord! No such thing will happen to you.” (Matthew 16:22)

Both characters in our readings judge situations based on their limited understanding. Jeremiah only sees how others perceive him and their negative reactions to the message he has for them. He misses three (3) important details. First, God is always good. He cannot have bad intentions. There is no malice in any of His actions. Second, the message God asks him to convey is the Truth. Most likely people rejected it because it did not conform to their sinful ways of life. Truth is powerful and it cannot be hidden nor suppressed forever. The truth will eventually come out like light penetrating through the darkness. The prophet experiences the power of truth when he tries to stop preaching. He says: “it becomes like fire burning in my heart, imprisoned in my bones; I grow weary holding it in, I cannot endure it.” (Jeremiah 20:9) Third, God’s will may not always generate immediate effects. Sometimes, time needs to pass. People need to grow in order to realise their mistakes and learn to cooperate with the grand plan of God the Father. 

In the gospel, Peter is scolded by Jesus because once again he is thinking from a human perspective. He judges that the Father is being so harsh to Jesus if He allows Him to suffer and die. Hence, he says: “God forbid! No such thing shall happen to you.” (Matthew 16:22) Peter acts as though he knows better than God. If Jesus did not straighten him out, he would have gotten in the way of God’s plan for the salvation of humanity! Perhaps that is why Jesus calls Peter “Satan” in this instance because he was challenging God’s wisdom like the fallen angel Lucifer who thought He knew better than God. Jesus tells Peter something of importance that we, too, must always remember — God does not think as human beings do. In Isaiah 55:8-9, God, Himself reminds His people: “My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways… For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” 

My sisters and I lost our father when we were very young. He died in a motorcycle accident. It was very painful for all of us, especially his children. Our grandparents along with Mama took really good care of us and raised us to be God-fearing individuals. Being the eldest in the family, I had to step in after college and helped in sending my sisters to school. To some extent, my life situation contributed to my late decision to become a priest. I have been ministering to God’s people for the past twelve (12) years now. This may not have been my dream job but I believe this is what God really intended for me. I am humbled that God has used me in many instances to bring healing, hope, and peace to many people in my various assignments. 

In the latter half of the gospel, Jesus further emphasises the seeming irony in the wisdom of God’s plan — “Whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it”. (Matthew 16:25) Perhaps it is not for us to always understand the will of God. We can never match His wisdom. God knows the past and the present and its effects on the future, not just for one life but how each interconnects with everyone else’s life. We however, have a choice whether to value God’s will in our life or not. The Second Reading from St. Paul enjoins us not to conform to this age but to “discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect.” (Romans 12:2)

In life, we can expect that we will experience difficulties. As the French always say: “C’est la vie!” God does not delight in our pain and suffering. That is not what He wants. Most of these misfortunes are borne of our wrong choices or others’ misuse of their free will. We cannot blame that on God. His will is always anchored on what is good, what is just, and what is true. Through the ages, His plan for the ultimate good of humanity never changes. We have to learn to trust in God’s wisdom and be confident in His love for us.