Resignation

“God is the same as always. It is men of faith that are needed: and then, there will be a renewal of the wonders we read of in the Gospel. Ecce non est abbreviata manus Domini, God's arm, His power, has not grown weaker!” (St Josemaría).

Bishop Muller and Pope Saint John Paul II

I recently heard a story about Bishop Mullor who had visited Pope Saint John Paul II in order to present his resignation.  However, the Saint did not want to accept this resignation as he wanted to appoint Bishop Mullor Nuncio.  Nuncio is a high ranking ambassador who represents the Holy See in other countries.  However, the Bishop was terribly concerned because his mother was chronically ill and he wished to make himself available to care for his sick mother.   When he explained his concern to the Saint, Pope Saint John Paul II asked him to pray a Hail Mary with him for the intention of his mother’s health.  Afterwards, the Saint said, “Solved! Any other problems?”  When Bishop Mullor returned home, his mother was fine and he was able to continue in his work for God…

Saint Josemaria said, “God is the same as always. It is men of faith that are needed: and then, there will be a renewal of the wonders we read of in the Gospel. Ecce non est abbreviata manus Domini, God's arm, His power, has not grown weaker!” (St Josemaría).

And I have been reflecting on that act of resignation and that decision to have faith and take it back in order to continue with the work that God demands of us in our vocations…

For it all comes back to faith.

“And when they came to the crowd, a man came up to him and kneeling before him said, ‘Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and he suffers terribly; for often he falls into the fire, and often into the water. And I brought him to your disciples, and they could not heal him.’ And Jesus answered, ‘O faithless and perverse generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him here to me.’ And Jesus rebuked him, and the demon came out of him, and the boy was cured instantly. Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, ‘Why could we not cast it out?’ He said to them, ‘Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from hence to yonder place,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.’” (Matthew 17:14-20).

The epileptic son could be healed.  God is infinite.  A small miracle or a large miracle are the same to Him.  He could bring people back from the dead – He could bring Himself back from the dead.  It would not matter if He used His own Hand or mine, He would be able to move mountains – and so can I – WITH FAITH.

And I have been thinking about that today as I have been thinking about resignation.  For it seems that God really does just ask me to simply have faith!

For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.