How Can I Cooperate in God’s Plan?

A Holy Thursday Reflection by Angie Grilliot, Executive Director 

The scriptural phrase from Luke 2:19, “Mary pondered these things in her heart,” kept coming to mind for me as I journeyed through Lent this year. I am not sure if it is because of my season of life as a mom – preparing to officially celebrate another daughter getting married and welcoming a new son-in-law to our ever-growing family, while also enjoying the last few months of my youngest daughter’s high school years. Or, if it is this new season of leading the Society of St. Vincent de Paul as Executive Director. It is probably a combination of all those things (and more!). The last two weeks, especially, I have been pondering the cooperation in and embracing of God’s plan that we can see in scripture.   

“When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home.” (Matthew 1:24)

It is easy to look at Joseph’s messages in a dream from an angel as some divine intervention that we may not feel we have access to in our lives. I was reminded during a homily on the Solemnity of St. Joseph, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary, that Joseph had a choice as to whether to believe what happened in that dream. We can imagine that the reason he believed the message is because he was prepared to believe the message. By remaining in Holy Scripture. By remembering, through the Jewish customs, the Passover sacrifice and the words of the Prophets. God had been preparing him for this message long before that dream. The dream was a pivotal point where he said “yes” to God, but he had done the work of a faithful servant to be able to hear the truth. 

“Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38) 

Mary, too, reminds us of the emphatic “yes”, her fiat, when she says she is open to the Angel Gabriel’s message from God. We know that she, too, understood the Messianic prophecies of old. Her preparation made her not only understand what the angel was saying but also gave her the boldness to be able to confidently participate in the plan for salvation.    

Now we come to Holy Thursday. It is the last full day that the Disciples will have with Jesus in His human form. How does He spend that time? By preparing them. Preparing them for His death, yes, but also preparing them for what they should do after He is gone. After He washes their feet at the conclusion of the last supper, He says:  

“I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.” (John 13:15) 

I don’t need to ponder very long to realize that my desire to hear God’s messages for my own life more clearly is not equated with something that He is withholding from me. The message this Lent for me has been clear: by remaining in His Word, by seeking Him in others in my life, and by being open to serving others, I, too, can cooperate confidently in God’s plan. How clearly that is demonstrated by the Vincentians, staff, volunteers, and donors who fervently answer the call to serve every day. I am so very grateful. 

My prayer for you is that your communion with Jesus in the preparation of His disciples (which extends to all of us!) and His suffering on the Cross will be joined with the Easter Resurrection. May your life, and mine, reflect the Lord in all things.