I love it when God takes a turn watering the flowers in front of the Monastery because then I don’t have to. Oh don’t get me wrong, watering the flowers is not that taxing of a job. It’s not like I am going to the creek and hauling water uphill both ways. But, I am thankful all the same when God takes a turn.
When God waters my flowers, my attention is drawn to divine providence. All of us are dependent on the providence of God. Our very lives are a gift from God and our livelihoods are dependent on God. We are all reliant on his loving care. Jesus told us that we can trust in God’s loving providence when he said, “If God cares so wonderfully for the flowers of the field that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you (Matthew 6:30).”
The Catechism of the Catholic Church tells us that “creation has its own goodness and proper perfection, but it did not spring forth complete from the hands of the Creator. The universe was created ‘in a state of journeying’ toward an ultimate perfection yet to be attained, to which God has destined it. We call ‘divine providence’ the dispositions by which God guides his creation toward this perfection (CCC302).” It goes on to assure us “that the solicitude of divine providence is concrete and immediate; God cares for all, from the least things to the great events of the world and its history (CCC303).”
What a glorious thing it is to have a God who cares for us so deeply and so intimately, from the smallest to the largest of matters! May we never take this for granted.