Luke 11:11-13
“What father among you would hand his son a snake when he asks for a fish? Or hand him a scorpion when he asks for an egg? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him?” (USCCB Luke Chapter 11:11-13 https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/11 )
If someone who is wicked can give a good gift, then what kind of gift can God in whom there is no wickedness give? Well, to look at it closer, Jesus says: How much more will the Father in Heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.
“God is Love, and love is the first gift, containing all others, God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us”(CCC1994:733).
We know how to give good gifts to our children, we know how to provide for their needs and if we, in our blindness and selfishness, can still give this to our own, then would God let himself be outdone in generosity?
We are his children, we are loved by him and he knows our name. God loves us more than we can even understand, he gives himself to us completely. Imagine if we were not blind but could see clearly. Now imagine if we were not selfish but selfless, if we were completely selfless and could see clearly, what would our gifts look like then?
We would be able to see our children as they really were, and what they actually were in need of, so clearly that they wouldn’t even need to ask us because we would already know what it was that they needed. But, if we always gave them what they needed before they even asked, or maybe before they realized that they were themselves in need, then maybe they wouldn’t ask. Maybe then it would be beneficial to allow them to be in situations where they would come to the realization that they were in need and must ask to receive,
This is not so we could then be aware of what they lacked, but rather so they could see in themselves all they lacked and then see that it didn’t matter. This is because our love of them was unconditional and not a love of them for what they possess, for it seems a dangerous notion to provide to such an extent, so as the one receiving mistakes providence for their own perfection. Then they would surely and truly cease to receive because receiving would imply that someone other than themselves was giving. We are broken creatures and what would then stop us from saying if I never was in need, then surely, I will never need, and this is not fitting for a creature,
Would it then cease to be providence? Think about it. I’m speaking for myself but I’m certain that many people can relate. How often is God’s providence seen in relation to what is received. What about all that we don’t receive? I always first think of God’s providence in relation to material needs. It’s almost instinctive, and while God’s providence can be seen in material needs, it also can be seen in spiritual needs. What about seeing God’s providence in those things in which we don’t receive. Not receiving is a far greater blessing than receiving that which would lead us astray or do harm. My concern is that we can blame the devil for things that he’s not responsible for and give him too much credit. Maybe we should first, look to God and strive to see all things through his plan of loving goodness. It would be far more enjoyable to look for God in all things rather than crediting the devil. I’m not saying the devil doesn’t interfere, but rather what I’m getting at is, in the storms, which are coming perhaps it’s best to look at Jesus rather than the storm.
“Divine providence consists of the dispositions by which God guides all his creatures with wisdom and love to their ultimate end” (CCC1994:321)
So, perhaps in order to be able to truly receive, we must first be able to acknowledge our need and then we would welcome any gifts with open arms as we would have the proper disposition to receive, a disposition of gratitude.
“Grace is first and foremost the gift of the spirit who justifies and sanctifies us” (CCC1994:2003)
Thomas Patrick Leddy
References
- United States Conference Of Catholic Bishops (abbreviated above as USCCB) website Luke chapter 11:11-13 https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/11
- Catechism Of The Catholic Church ( abbreviated above as CCC1994) Latin text copyright Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Citta del Vaticano, English translation for Ireland copyright 1994 Veritas-Libreria Editrice Vaticana published in Ireland by veritas.
