DO I BELIEVE IN DIVINE PROVIDENCE?
32 ^nd Sunday in Ordinary Time 1Kgs 17:10-16; Heb 9:24-28; Mk 12:38-44
Before we get in to the challenge, let us define what is Divine providence? Providence in general, is a function of the virtue of prudence, and may be defined as the practical reason, adapting means to an end. As applied to God, providence is God Himself considered Himself in that act by which in His wisdom He so orders all events within the Universe that the end for which it was created me be realized.

Belief in Divine Providence involves humility before God and complete dependency on God and complete surrender to God. It may be easy to trust in God when we are in good health, when we have enough wealth and when we are in good time. It becomes difficult when we are in poor health, in difficult situations etc. Just believing in God’s Providence in normal situations is not something big. The real challenge is, do I trust in God’s Providence when I am in a helpless situation?

For instance, a man falls accidentally in to a dry well. Fortunately, he catches hold of a root and hangs between sky and the ground. God asks him to release his hand from the root, promising that He would save his life. He knew for sure that the root is the only source that could hold his life. If he releases his hand he will die. In this situation, if he trusts in God and leaves the root, he is the true believer in God’s Providence.
We see three characters that are in a similar situation in today’s reading. What is interesting here is their response to God’s call to trust in His providence. In the Gospel Jesus makes use of the example of the poor widow to teach his apostles how to trust in God’s providence. Mk12:44 says that she contributed her whole livelihood. This act implies that she was humble before God. She completely surrendered her whole self to God. She depended completely on God for her survival. She fully believed that God would provide for her next meal. This is the kind of trust Jesus wants his apostles to have on God.

In 1Kgs17; 10-16 we see the widow’s trust in God’s promise. Similar to the poor widow in the gospel she gives to Prophet Elijah what she has for herself and her son to eat their last meal and die. She completely believes in the promise of the abundance of flour and oil. Since she is very strong in her trust in God, God fulfills the promise. She and her son eat from the flour and oil for a year.

In Heb9:24-28, unlike other high priests who had to offer animal’s blood as sacrifice every year for their sins and that of others, Jesus offers his own body and blood. In other words he offers his whole self for the forgiveness of the sins of the world. It shows his trust in the Father. He surrenders himself completely, because He trusted in the promise that He will be raised on third day. This is the challenge God keeps in front of us today. God wants us to trust in Him like a child that trusts in his mother.

What is it that does not allow me to let loose of the root? What is it that does not allow me to let God save me? What is it that does not allow me to let God provide for me? What is it that does not allow me to let God plan my events? What is it that does not allow me to depend on God? What is it that does not allow me to surrender myself to God?