If the Lord wills

 Reflection on Today’s Readings, Wednesday of 7th Week in Ordinary Time II, May 22nd, 2024
Texts: James 4:13-17; Psalm 48:2-3,6-11; Mark 9:38-40 

St. James, in today’s first reading, brings to mind the words of the Wise, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths” (3:5-6). St. James expresses it thus: “Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and get gain"; whereas you do not know about tomorrow.” 

We should always acknowledge that we do not own our lives in whatever we do or say. We should act and speak in a way that acknowledges God’s ownership of our lives. St. Paul says, “In Him we live, move and have our beings” (Acts 17: 28). Without God we are nothing.  

St. James also reminds us that tomorrow is not in our hands, but in the hands of God. Since tomorrow is in the hands of God we are to entrust our future into His hands. Hence, we should not act or speak in a way that shows tomorrow is under our power.  

Do not forbid him

Since, tomorrow is not under our power, we should make good use of every moment we have. Hence, Jesus teaches us, today, not to stop whoever is doing good. He says, "Do not forbid him; for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon after to speak evil of me. For he that is not against us is for us.” St. James says, “Whoever knows what is right to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.” 

Further more, St. James reminds us of our finitude; our life is momentary. We are alive today, tomorrow we are no more. There is no certainty that we will see tomorrow. St. James puts it thus: “What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.”  Hence, we are to see every moment as a gift from God and thus thank God for it. We are alive today because the Lord wills it. 

Our lives depend on God’s will

There is no reason for us to boast or be arrogant about anything, for we live by God’s will. Hence, St. James says, “Instead you ought to say, ‘If the  Lord wills, we shall live and we shall do this or that.’" This is an acknowledgement that our lives depends on the will of God. Indeed, our lives depend on God’s will. 

Prayer 

God our Father, in You we live, move and have our beings, grant that we may live to acknowledge You in our lives. Amen  

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke