Readings: Is 45:1, 4-6. 1Thes 1:1-5b. Mt 22:15-21
God is awesomely amazing! His ways are interesting (even though we may not always understand them). He works, not just in mysterious ways, but also mysteriously unique ways. He continues to manifest his power and purposes through people and events we don’t expect, or agree with.
There are people we consider outsiders, for example. They may not belong to the ‘in’ group. They may not be related to ‘us’ by blood. They may not be the ones ‘we’ expect, based on our own criteria. They may not be the ‘right people,’ even from objective criteria. And yet, God uses whoever he chooses to fulfill his purposes. He can choose even the oppressive Caesars and Cyruses to direct nations into his own plans (even when they may not directly acknowledge him). For they too belong to God.
May Jesus Christ grant us the grace to fulfill our obligations, without regard to others’ weaknesses and failures.