Providence

It’s more than just a city in Rhode Island; it’s God’s intervention in all things – even your evangelization. But it requires something from you.

How often do we think to ourselves, “Evangelization is not my responsibility; that’s for the clergy and religious. Certainly not me; I have no training or skill, I’m not persuasive. I’m too young (too old, too busy). No way! Evangelization must be someone else’s job.”

Today’s Gospel gives a good example of how Divine Providence makes a way where there is “no way.” The disciples said, “Dismiss the crowds so that they can go to the villages and buy food.” But Jesus had another way and Divine Providence fed the five thousand.

Christian teaching on providence in the high Middle Ages was most fully developed by Thomas Aquinas in the Summa Theologica. One of the foremost modern Thomists, Dominican father Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange, wrote a study of providence entitled "Providence: God's loving care for man and the need for confidence in Almighty God." In it, he presents and solves, according to Church doctrine, the most difficult issues as related to providence.

The key words in Fr. Reginald’s study’s title are “confidence in Almighty God.” From simple beginnings, our own evangelization of ourselves, our friends and families, our communities and the whole world must start. And from simple, single, first steps made with confidence in Almighty God, we may build our own path of evangelization.

 

1. Read the Bible every day. Listen to hear the Holy Spirit speaking to you through what you have read.

2. Make your faith eternally visible by wearing a crucifix or simple cross, a shirt bearing a slogan or sign of faith, a ring or other small piece of jewelry showing your belief in Jesus.

3. When eating out or in the school or workplace lunch room, say grace silently, or at least quietly; bless yourself with the Sign of the Cross.

4. Make a habit of saying, “God bless,” or “Bless you,” to friends, family, colleagues and associates, when it is appropriate.

5. Pray each day for Providence to grace you with confidence, strength and joy enough to answer any question from anyone about God, your faith, or anything else.

What Does the Bible Say?

“But your providence, O Father! guides [a voyage], for you have furnished even in the sea a road, and through the waves a steady path showing that you can save from any danger so that even one without skill may embark.” (Wisdom 14:3-4)