WRITE STRAIGHT WITH CROOKED LINES
"The stone the
builders rejected has become the cornerstone; by the Lord has this been done;
it is wonderful in our eyes" (Ps 118:22 - 23).
There is an old
saying that God can write straight with crooked lines. It is a comment that
fits the story of Joseph, in the Old Testament. Joseph's brothers sold him into
slavery. As he was led away to Egypt, he had no idea how God would use this
evil deed to save his brothers and their families from starvation. I believe
most of you remember the touching story of how Joseph, after gaining great
authority in Egypt, rescued his people during a time of famine.
The same comment
can be made about today's parable from the Gospel of Matthew. The son, murdered
by the tenant farmers, represents Jesus Himself. The farmers, through their
terrible deed, hoped to receive the son's inheritance. Likewise, the death of
Jesus brought the grace of His heavenly inheritance to the whole world! God
used the malice of men to bring a supreme good to all mankind.
Sometimes, we
wonder where God's plan is to be found. We see natural disasters, like in Haiti
and Chile, and we see riots and wars breaking out throughout the world. In our
own personal lives, we experience sickness, suffering, and frustration. Like
Joseph, we cannot see, now, why God permits all these difficulties, or how He
will use them to accomplish His good purpose. But, it is with faith that we
trust in our Father's plan, with the knowledge that He has taken the worst of
all possible things, the death of His Own Son, and has reconciled it to make it
the foundation of a new World. This is what God does in our lives, too. He
takes our brokenness, our sins, and holds them, reconciled and forgiven, giving
us new Life. We can build our lives on Jesus Christ, Who is our Cornerstone (cf
Eph 2:20). "By the Lord this has been done; it is wonderful in our
eyes" (Ps 118:23).
We must never be
fooled into suspecting that somehow God has lost control of human affairs or
that difficult circumstances have become so powerful that even God cannot draw
good from them. Though it is true that God could prevent all evil, in His
supreme Wisdom and for His Own good reasons, He has chosen to write straight
with crooked lines. And let us not forget what we read in today's Gospel,
"The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; by the Lord
has this been done; it is wonderful in our eyes" (Ps 118:22 - 23).
We thank You, Lord,
Jesus Christ, for all the benefits that You have given us and for all the pain
and insult which You have borne for us. O most merciful Redeemer, Friend, and
Brother, may we know You more clearly, love You more dearly, and follow You
more nearly, day by day. Amen" (St. Richard of Chichester, 13th century).
Especially during this Lenten season.