I haven’t posted much lately. I’ve been on the road alot, with more to come. Not much reflection time.
I have to admit to great disappointment when Benedict XVI (the man formerly known as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger) stepped out onto the balcony on Tuesday. Like, four-letter word disappointed. As the day progressed, I became more at peace. I had to ask myself questions like “Do you really believe that the Holy Spirit is a work here? If so, rest easy.” Some things made it better: the name chosen – Benedict instead of a John Paul III. Reading about Benedict XV helped. Knowing a bit about St. Benedict helped. Surrendering to the fact that I have no control over the College of Cardinals, and that God in Her wisdom is still in ultimate control, helped. Remembering Thomas Becket and John XXIII and how they surprized people helped. Knowing that I wasn’t alone in my disappointment helped.
And so, now I am freed up to return again to looking beyond the world that presses in on me. I am ready to open up again and seek to see the face of the Creator more clearly. I am free to pray for our new pope… even free to believe that “all things work to good for those who love the Lord” – or as Julian of Norwich might say “All shall be well, And all things shall be well.”
Me too. I was disappointed when he was announced. Now, I’m kind of curious to see what good thing will come from this. After all “we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28) OK, I headed over to BibleGateway.com and discovered that more current translations such as NIV quoted above have a very different slant from the KJV that I remember saying “we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
Interesting change from “all things work” to “in all things God works”.
Nevertheless – I believe that I will see something good. And since the election elevated Cardinal Ratzinger, it probably won’t be what I had been hoping for. But it will be good.
Elsi
I went to the NAB and looked up romans 8:28 and found this translation:
“We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.”
And still, Julian sums it up the best with “All shall be well.”