WORD 2day: 1st October, 2014

Is it right to say: Man proposes; God disposes?

Job 9: 1-12, 14-16; Lk 9: 57-62: Remembering St. Teresa of Lisieux 

Lord's ways are unique and the best thing that can happen to us is God's plan. Job today explains how a radical surrender into the hands of God is the best way or the only sound way of living human life. Man proposes; God disposes - we have heard this often. It is unfair to state it that way, because it is God who is the Master; God proposes! The best thing for us is to accept that proposal, without minding the momentary inconvenience it may cause. 

The Little flower whom we remember today reminds us of the same child like attitude. She would say: 'what matters is not great deeds, but deeds with great love'! The Little way that she proposes is simply a total, loving and radical surrender into the hands of God; allowing God to propose and being ready to dispose ourselves to those divine plans.

We see a collection of episodes in the Gospel today, which illustrate this truth. What we are called to do is not great work, but God's work. It is the Lord who created us and it is the Lord who commissions us! At times we think we are the masters of the things that we are involved in, but it is the Lord who is using us and if only we become aware of it, great will be our happiness! The Little Way, Job's life and Christ's demands to his disciples: these are just different ways of saying- be attentive when God proposes and that is the best thing that can happen to you!