THE HANDS THAT NEVER DEPART

Saturday of the 30th Week in Ordinary Time

Rom 11:1-2, 11-12, 25-29

Whenever I talk about my life and ministry as a priest, I cannot help but echo the words of the very deeply respected theologian, Fr. Karl Rahner. It is said that on the eve of his ordination, Fr. Rahner prayed to the Lord in similar words: “Lord, tomorrow I will become a priest when the bishop lays his hands on me. Then after a short while he will withdraw his hands, but Yours will remain.” I often quote this prayer of Fr. Rahner because it expresses very well my personal sentiments and experience after 10 years in the ministry.

The Lord does not revoke His promise. We may be unfaithful, but He remains faithful. We may forget, but He always remembers. We may stumble, but He stands indomitable so that He helps us rise each time we fall. Our shortcomings, weaknesses, and sins cannot alter His word, His promise, His choice. So great is His love for us, and His mercy endures forever!

St. Paul gives us today one of his most consoling words: “God never takes back His gifts or revokes His choice.” Let this statement ring always in our hearts and minds.

When misfortunes befall us because of our infidelity to God, God is not punishing us. When great trials come our way when we disobey God, God is not abandoning us. When because of our sins we suffer, God is not unfaithful to us. Misfortunes, trials, and sufferings doest not say anything about God’s infidelity to us; rather, they speak about our unfaithfulness to Him.

Next time we are tempted to blame God for our disasters in life and call Him “unfaithful”, let us look into our hearts. God never breaks His word. His Word rather broke Himself for us. The Eucharist is the living manifestation of that.

A bishop’s hands may not have been laid on your head as it is done when a man is ordained to the priesthood, but, surely, the hands of the Lord have never been withdrawn from you. See for yourself, they are always there to hold you tight…especially when you lose your grip.