God’s wondrous deeds
June 22, 2023 - Thursday, 11th Week in Ordinary Time. Psalm 111:1b-2, 3-4, 7-8
The angel Raphael said in the book of Tobit: “It's a good idea to keep a king's secret, but what God does should be told everywhere, so that he may be praised and honoured” (Tobit 12:7). The entire Bible tells us of God’s wondrous deeds. It begins with the creation of the universe and ends with the vision of a new heaven and a new earth. It narrates the story of ordinary people who encountered God in their lives and were transformed. Likewise, it reveals to us the power of God’s grace that is stronger than the power of sin. By reading the Bible, we participate in the drama of God’s love for us. This collection of different books and genres proves the words of the apostle Paul: Nothing can “separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 8:39).
The psalmist praises God for his wondrous deeds that reveal God’s graciousness and compassion towards His people, and faithfulness to his covenant. How about us? Do we praise God for his wondrous deeds in our lives? In January 2023, I went to Taiwan. A honeymoon usually lasts one month, but my honeymoon in Taiwan has already been extended to half a year. I go to different communities as needed, celebrate the Eucharist and preach in Chinese. I constantly meet new people and extend my network of new friends. But, what I particularly cherish is my Holy Week experience with the aboriginal community in the mountains north of Taipei.
The psalmist says: “I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart” (Ps 111:1). I want to do the same. The Holy Week began with a celebration of three masses of Palm Sunday in three different places in a breathtaking scenery of steep mountains and thick forests. Then came Holy Thursday. The mass was supposed to begin at 7 pm, but by 6:55 pm the only person present was me and one of the leaders of the community. What to do? We knelt and began to pray the rosary. With each decade, the church was slowly filling up. By 7:30 pm, there were more than twenty people. As I was kneeling before the faithful to wash their feet, I thanked God that Pope Francis allowed to include in this rite not just men, but also women and children.
“Great are the works of the LORD, exquisite in all their delights (Ps 111:2). Our fire on Easter Eve was like a bonfire. There was a small community of children and elderly around it. That chapel is located deep inside the mountain. Although we were few, our hearts resembled that huge Easter Eve fire burning with love and joy as we celebrated the victory of light over darkness, the victory of life over death.
How about you? Can you share what God has done in your life lately?