A will, a desperate attempt to put things in order and give the loved ones in our lives their due if anything were to happen to us. Free will, that messy and confusing thing which allows for wars, death, unhappiness, and pain but also allows for true love, joy, and peace. God’s will, something that we know keeps all the world in motion, but that is also impossible to grasp with our human reason because we cannot see with the eyes of God.
God’s will isn’t directly spoken of in the Gospel, but we see a glimpse of it. Jesus, being both God and man, knows that he has a purpose that he is getting closer and closer to. He also knows he has a limited time to minister to the people he is with on the earth. With this knowledge, when the threat of death came to Jesus, he left the area.
This was not because of fear or rejection of the will of the Father, quite the opposite. He knew this was not yet his time and so he left to a place where he could continue to minister to others and heal the sick.
There has been a lot of talk about the end of the world in 2020. All the things this year has brought has made people wonder about when Jesus will return, but the reality is, the end of the world is not yet here.
Whether it is coming soon or not our focus should not be to try and figure out when it is but to go where we can still minister, love, and heal. Let’s take a lesson straight from Jesus’ actions and try to find moments where we can escape the evil that is currently going on and instead bring people hope.
Whether the world ends tomorrow or in 2,000 years, let’s make sure that when Jesus comes we are busy doing exactly what he would have done. God’s will is perfect and he has us exactly where we need to be to bless the people he wants us to meet. May we all have the strength and joy to live it well. God Bless!
Tommy Shultz is Director of Evangelization for the North Allegan Catholic Collaborative and the founder of Rodzinka Ministries. In these roles, he is committed to bringing all those he meets into a deeper relationship with Christ. Tommy has a heart and a flair for inspiring people to live their faith every day. He has worked in various youth ministry, adult ministry, and diocesan roles. He has been a featured speaker at retreats and events across the country. His mission and drive have been especially inspired by St. John Paul II’s teachings. Tommy is blessed to be able to learn from the numerous parishes he visits and pass that experience on in his presentations. With a degree in Theology from Franciscan University, Tommy hopes to use his knowledge to help all people understand the beauty of The Faith.