Word to the Wise
Wednesday, October 29, 2025 - Wednesday in the 30th Week in Ordinary Time
[Rom 8:26-30 and Luke 13:22-30]The Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes with inexpressible groanings. And the one who searches hearts knows what is the intention of the Spirit, because he intercedes for the holy ones according to God's will. We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. [Romans]
St. Paul's words in today's first scripture from the Letter to the Romans can be a source of comfort in a couple of ways. The first way is in the realization that our efforts to pray are accompanied by the Holy Spirit, especially when no words really express our situation or needs. St. Thomas Aquinas, in his commentary on 1 Corinthians reminds us that it is the intention to pray that is more important than the words that we say. He makes the wry comment that we can scarcely say a single "Our Father" without our mind getting distracted.
The second way that St. Paul's words can be a great comfort is that God's providence cares for those who love God. There will always be those who say, "But what about.....?" in pointing to the terrible conditions that some faithful Christians have to endure. Those conditions are human-made, often out of the control of those who suffer them. Trust in God's providence that ultimately brings eternal life is at the foundation of our faith. If we cannot believe in God's providence, as manifested in the person of Jesus' life, death and resurrection and the presence of the Holy Spirit who helps us to pray, then we are truly lost. St. Paul's words can help to keep us focused on those truths. AMEN
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