hidden counsels of God

Wisdom 2:1,12-22; The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; John 7:1-2,10,25-30

Just a few words on today's readings as we arrive at another friday during Lent: meat is off the table, abstinence ensues, and the way of the cross will be made by many.

We turn to the book of wisdom, we believe was written fifty years before the coming of Christ, by a jewish author who probably resided in Alexandria, in Egypt.  HE writes to encourage his fellows JEwish brothers in light of opposition and persecution by those jewish who were apostates.

His opening lines set the tone for the whole work, "love righteousness, you who judge the earth; think of the Lord in goodness and seek him in integrity of heart, because he is found by those who do not test him and manifest himself to those who do not disbelieve him."

Love righteousness, think of the lord in goodness, seek him with integrity of heart...

As we turn to chapter 2 there is a twist.

There are the '"hidden counsels of God" that we must all take into account.

The hidden counsels of God... Ponder that a moment.


As great as we are at reading people, reading events, making judgments of what is right and what is wrong, at planning or scheming, yet there is the "hidden counsels of God" that ultimately lay beneath the surface of our lives directing the paths that open us to us with each step we take.

This is encouragement for those who think of the lord in goodness and seek him in integrity of heart but for the wicked, their own destruction they plan as they scheme.

We too must be attentive to the hidden counsels of God: only then can true humility and patience begin to take root in our lives, can holiness become an attribute of our love.

Love righteousness those who judge the earth...think of the lord in goodness, seek him in integrity of heart...but when we judge we must be attentive to the hidden counsels of God.

As we make the devotional of the stations of the cross this days and experience the desire for meat think on the hidden counsels of God, especially as we walk in the footsteps of Christ to Calvary and beyond.