God is good… All the time… This familiar call-and-response is how Fr. Ajani began his homily. And we dutifully responded. But then he asked us a question that made us think, “Have you ever given that statement its due? Have you pondered deeply how good God truly is?”
We get our first glimpse of just how good God is at the very beginning of the Bible in the story of creation. God gave Adam everything. He provided. Even when Adam chose to go his own way and disobey God, God still provided. He didn’t abandon Adam and Eve as he took them from the garden. He sewed clothes for them. He gave them work. He stayed with them. He does the same for us. Everything we need and have is given to us from God. Everything!
King David confirms this truth in 1 Chron 29:
- V.11 For all in heaven and on earth is yours
- V.12 Riches and glory are from you
- V.14 For everything is from you
Think about this for a moment. Every single thing you have is a gift from God. Every moment of time; every ounce of talent; every dime of treasure. Add to these gifts God’s unconditional love for you, His mercy and forgiveness. Jesus gives us His real presence in the Eucharist – thank you, Lord. And we have the gift of eternal life with God in heaven because of Jesus’s suffering and dying on the cross. “Awesome” is an overused term today, but truly – How awesome. When we embrace this truth for our lives, we realize that His generosity is overwhelming! How are we to respond to God for all these gifts, blessings, and benefits?
Humble gratitude – yes. Praise and thanksgiving – of course. And to live boldly by putting God first in every area of our life. To live a stewardship life, a life of prayer, participation, and generosity. A good steward receives God’s gifts gratefully, manages them to the best of his/her ability, and shares them courageously out of love and justice. God is good – all of the time, and so we share His good with our neighbors.
Photo Credit: Robert Davis
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