God, All Powerful? . . . Most of the time.

There was a catechism lesson we had when we were children. It was about the “Attributes of God”? God is all-knowing, all-loving, all-wise, and all-powerful. God can do all things. He can make a galaxy or an atom, an ocean or a raindrop, an elephant or a humming bird. Nothing exists outside God’s power to command.

But on second thought, there really is something God can’t do (or won’t do) . . . He won’t make us obey His commands. God can appeal to us with right reasons. He makes certain things speak clearly that they are true and good; all for the purpose of winning us over to His Divine Will.

But God cannot violate our own free will. He Him- self gave it to us to use in cooperation with His Will. God wants us to experience this participation as a joy and thereby discover our unique dignity and happiness. Our freewill is what makes us human beings. To take that away would destroy our humanity. Unlike how we can treat God . . . God will not go against our will.

We see this in the gospel (Mk. 6:6) where Jesus is teaching in his home town of Nazareth. The neighbors come out to see their “home town hero”. Suddenly the crowd became aware that Jesus was just one of them – – – no better, no worse. “Hey, we know you Jesus. You grew up here. You played in our streets. Don’t go thinking you are anything special. You’re not. You’re just like us.”

“So (Jesus) was not able to perform any mighty deed there . . . he was amazed at their lack of faith.”

Our unwillingness to believe in Christ makes it impossible for him to do his will for us. “I want to help you but I can’t…because you won’t let me do my will for you.”

We tie God’s hands when we refuse to welcome Christ into our lives. God is always polite. Most times He won’t enter where He is not welcomed or is ignored. Christ knocks on the door but only we can open it.

So why doesn’t God shout to us or make a special show of His power? He can and sometimes does. Oddly enough God reveals his power through us, his human creature.

The brilliance of the human mind is really our sharing in what God knows about his creation. Splitting the atom and the universal rejection of human slavery are both moments where God moved us to discover his loving will. (I personally think God will, in time, show our scientists a clean and renewable source of energy to advance human civilization). What will we do with that knowledge? God will leave us free to decide.

So have you done anything to celebrate Easter? Perhaps a road trip with family? A theatre presentation? Thrown a party or cooked a special meal? Visited a friend? What? God wants us to celebrate His Son you know.

Any event can be “A Special Easter Celebration”. Just call it that! I think I’ll have a “Special Easter Beer” tonight with Fr. John!!

Spring in your heart.

Fr. Tim