God does have a plan

The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to consider the nature of the plan of the Creator for the universe and our role in that plan. This may seem to be an enormous undertaking but Friar Jude Winkler today provides the background research to set the stage of belief in the resurrection and the necessity of martyrdom for the passage from Maccabees and the Stoicism in Matthew's background for his sensitivity to the realization of the plan of God in real time and places like Jerusalem. In our time the understanding that the love of God with our entire being, including "body and soul", is being replaced with more of a limited commitment to give. "God cannot expect me to..." is frequently our attitude. This does not seem to be the understanding of those put to death in the first reading. Jesus continues His journey to Jerusalem where the Will of the Father will bring Him into conflict with the authorities and to His death. The parable from the Gospel advises that when we know to a greater or lesser degree what the Will of the Father is for us, we show our involvement in the relationship of unconditional love with God by attending to the work and activity that is our vocation and for which we are amply provided with resources. Our prayer like the psalmist is that God will hear, protect and remain visible to us.