July 14, 2024

We live in interesting times to say the least. Many would say that we live in troubled times, but I still hold out that human history, and indeed the Church herself, have seen more troubled times. All the same, there is plenty to worry about. We may find ourselves asking ‘what in the world am I supposed to do?’ This is the same question that Queen Ester, from the Old Testament Book of Ester, asked herself. Her Uncle, Mordecai, has asked her to intercede for the Jewish people to her husband the king. Instead of bravely taking on the task, she replies to his message that she may lose her life if she approaches the king in the wrong way. Uncle Mordecai replies back with a warning that a threat against her people will not leave her unscathed, and then he says:  

Perhaps you have come to royal dignity for just such a time as this. – Ester 4:14

For such a time as this. This is one of my favorite lines in Sacred Scripture. It reminds the reader that we find ourselves in the time which we are; not another, more convenient time, but now, the present. We do not get to pick our battles, the Lord places us where we need to be and bestows upon us the grace to do what we must. In our second reading for this weekend we hear from Saint Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians. In that Letter Saint Paul conveys much the same idea: 

In Christ we were also chosen,

destined in accord with the purpose of the One 

who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will, 

so that we might exist for the praise of his glory, 

we who first hoped in Christ. – Ephesians 1:11-12

Let’s look at some of the key words in this passage: chosen, destined, purpose, accomplishes, intention, exist, and hoped. In this compact sentence Saint Paul has given us a plan for existing in the world while remaining unscathed by the turmoil of the world. When we remember that God is working alongside us we are more prone to recognize our part in the greater plan. This doesn’t mean that it is easy, but it is worthwhile to get a sense of understanding why we are where we are, when we are.

This conversation may remind you, as it reminds me, of the serenity prayer. Most of us will recognize the first portion of the expanded version of the serenity prayer but this longer version helps to flesh out what it is we are to do as we are attempting to ‘know the difference.’ 

“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time; enjoying one moment at a time; accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; trusting that He will make things right if I surrender to His Will; so that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him forever and ever in the next. Amen.”

Two Parishes, One Heart,

Fr. Adam