Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time—Romans 8:28-30

What an appropriate second reading for a time like this! “We know that all things work for good for those who love God.” A more accurate translation of this line says that “God works all things for good” or “in everything God works for good.” Did you hear that? Everything, every single thing, without qualification.

One of the key questions that the Holy Spirit invites us to ponder in our hearts this week is this: What is the good that God is working right now? Global pandemics, heated elections, economic downturns, unemployment and underemployment, anxiety, fear, hysteria surrounding schools, activities, sports… In the face of all this, what is the good that the Lord is doing? The Archangel Gabriel once reminded Mary that “Nothing is impossible for God” (Luke 1:37). That certainly means that God can do anything, but taken another way it means it is impossible for God to be doing nothing. So what is he up to? Have you asked him? And are you listening for his response?

The Spirit reminds us this week that Jesus is to be “the firstborn among many brothers and sisters” (Romans 8:29). “Firstborn” is first of all a Jewish legal term designating an heir and inheritor. The firstborn is entitled to everything the father possesses, which in the case of God the Father happens to be the entire created order. But the firstborn is also the example for the other children. Since by our Baptism we are adopted children of God, Jesus is for us the ultimate example of sonship and childlike trust in the Father.

So how did our big brother Jesus handle the difficult circumstances that his Father was working for good? We saw last week that Jesus prayed “with loud cries and tears” (Hebrews 5:7) throughout his earthly life. When faced with imminent betrayal, mockery, torture, and horrific death, Jesus prayed for it to pass over him. But with one key qualification: “if it be you will” (Luke 22:42). This was so important to Jesus that he surrounds his request with it. If it be you will…not my will but yours be done.

Sometimes, the Lord wants us to endure something horrendous and incomprehensible. And he might not even tell us in this life why he allowed it. Today, the Holy Spirit invites us to imitate big brother Jesus and trustingly endure whatever trails we are facing right now, knowing that it is impossible for God to do nothing and that in everything God works for good.