What seems like a lifetime ago, 28 years to this day, I gave my life to God as a consecrated laywoman. What I thought was a forever vocation, turned out not to be, and upon returning home I couldn’t help but chuckle to myself. “I should have known it was a bad omen to be consecrated on a day we celebrate someone getting beheaded.”
Yet God writes straight with crooked lines. That which was not meant last still helped my soul to grow and flourish in ways I could have never imagined. It also allowed me to learn Spanish, which has been a blessing in both my vocation to marriage and as the sole breadwinner for our family. Although I couldn’t see it at the time, God was laying the foundation for my life. He was planting seeds and preparing me for what was to come.
I’m sure God prepared John the Baptist for what was to come as well. As he lay in prison, I can imagine him spending much time on his knees on the cold stone floor. I can picture him begging God to forgive those who refused to accept His Son Jesus and have mercy on their souls. I wonder if God revealed to him that he would soon die. Maybe he even had a vision, like St. Stephen did. Whatever he experienced, I don’t think it was a surprise to him when the executioners showed up at his cell.
In the first reading, St. Paul was trying to prepare the Thesselonians as well, adverting them to refrain from immorality and to conduct themselves in a way pleasing to God. They had been given instructions from Jesus Himself, and knew how to live a virtuous life, yet it seems they had deviated from the straight and narrow path. He reminded them that God gives us His Holy Spirit to show us how to behave in the face of temptation. And that is no small gift.
God breathes life into our souls, showing us the way to go and helping us endure the hardships the path will surely bring. Whether it be for a future vocation, a life-long suffering, or death itself, God sends His Holy Spirit to prepare us. As the psalmist writes, “he guards the life of his faithful ones; from the hand of the wicked he delivers them.” May you allow God to prepare you for whatever is to come in your life.
Parece que fue hace una vida entera, hace 28 años, cuando en este día entregué mi vida a Dios como laica consagrada. Lo que pensé que sería una vocación para siempre resultó no serlo, y al regresar a casa no pude evitar reírme. “Debería haber sabido que era mala señal consagrarme el día en que celebramos la decapitación de alguien”.
Sin embargo, Dios escribe recto con líneas torcidas. Lo que no estaba destinado a durar, aún así, ayudó a mi alma a crecer y florecer de maneras que jamás imaginé. También me permitió aprender español, lo cual ha sido una bendición tanto en mi vocación matrimonial como en mi rol como único sostén de la familia. Aunque no lo viera en ese momento, Dios estaba poniendo los cimientos de mi vida. Estaba sembrando semillas y preparándome para lo que venía.
Estoy segura de que Dios también preparó a Juan el Bautista para lo que vendría. Mientras estuvo encarcelado, puedo imaginarlo pasando mucho tiempo de rodillas sobre el frío suelo de piedra. Me lo imagino suplicándole a Dios que perdonara a los que aún no aceptaban a su Hijo Jesús y que tuviera misericordia de sus almas. Me pregunto si Dios le reveló que pronto moriría. Quizás incluso tuvo una visión, como San Esteban. Sea lo que sea que experimentó, no creo que le sorprendiera que los verdugos se presentaran en su celda.
En la primera lectura, San Pablo también intentaba preparar a los tesalonicenses, aconsejándoles que se abstuvieran de la inmoralidad y se comportaran de una manera agradable a Dios. Habían recibido instrucciones del mismo Jesús y sabían cómo vivir una vida virtuosa; sin embargo, parece que se habían desviado del camino correcto. Les recordó que Dios nos da su Espíritu Santo para mostrarnos cómo comportarnos ante la tentación. Y ese no es un regalo pequeño.
Dios infunde vida en nuestras almas, mostrándonos el camino a seguir y ayudándonos a soportar las dificultades que seguramente vendrán. Ya sea para una futura vocación, un sufrimiento de por vida o la muerte misma, Dios envía a su Espíritu Santo para prepararnos. Como escribe el salmista: “protege la vida de sus fieles y los libra de los malvados”. Que Dios te prepare para lo que venga en tu vida.
Tami Urcia is a midwestern gal from a large Catholic family. As a young adulthood she was a missionary in Mexico, where she studied theology and philosophy. After returning stateside bilingual, she gained a variety of work experience, traveled extensively and finished her Bachelor’s Degree at Brescia University. She loves organizing and simplifying things, watching her children play sports, deep conversations with close family and friends and finding unique ways to brighten others’ day with Christ’s love. She works full time at Diocesan in the Software Department and manages the Inspiration Daily reflections. She is also a contributing writer on CatholicMom.com and BlessedIsShe.net.
Feature Image Credit: Jaqueline Bremmer, unsplash.com/photos/a-pair-of-black-boots-sitting-on-top-of-a-rug-qFBp_0Ez87g
The views and opinions expressed in the Inspiration Daily blog are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Diocesan, the Diocesan staff, or other contributors to this blog.
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