A Little Faith... in a Big God

A Reflection on the Second Reading for Sunday, August 27th, 2023:
Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time

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Romans​
11:33-36

O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counsellor?” “Or who has given a gift to him, to receive a gift in return?” For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen.

Pray. Pause. Reflect.

To know God is to not know God. There is an unfathomable depth to who and what our God is. 

When I studied theology in graduate school, every bit of information I learned only emphasized how much I didn’t know. It was both frustrating and motivating, and it propelled me to a real closeness with God. There is such richness in the ways God has revealed Himself. He wants us to know Him, and He reveals Himself to the world through each one of us. 

Believing this reality means acknowledging there is more to my life than just my life. My life matters not simply to me and my loved ones, but also my life means something to God. Each of our lives does. When we recognize that meaning, we can’t help but want to live differently; to live the life that God calls us to.  

There are days where I take God’s presence in my life for granted. Years ago, I found a greeting card that read: “All you need is a little faith…” and inside: “...in a BIG God.” I admit that some days it’s hard to muster up even a wee bit of faith. Daily, I make choices and take actions that imply I am in control, yet God made the first move in my life. He created me. In all the riches of His wisdom and knowledge, He decided this world needed me. That has nothing to do with me and everything to do with God. I can get wrapped up in my own “big-ness” — my own successes and struggles — forgetting that God plays a part in all those pieces. However, there is always a small part of me that remembers and knows full well that God is BIG and He holds me as a part of His “big-ness.”

Have you ever been simply overwhelmed with God’s big goodness in your life? Too often we are overwhelmed by the not-so-good in our lives, but there IS big goodness just waiting to be recognized and received. Even on my toughest day, when I get out of my head, for even just a moment, I see the good everywhere! How? By having a little faith. In these moments, I think of just one thing that I’m grateful for. Thinking of one thing quickly turns into two things… then three… then more, and my gratitude grows. 

Doing this small thing leads to a big change in my perspective. Try it. Seriously, right now, think about one thing in this moment you are grateful for. 

Got it? 

As you’re pondering that one thing, I bet other things are coming to mind also.

God’s goodness, His richness, His “big-ness” is offered to me, and also includes me. Being adopted into God's family through my baptism does not take away any of my struggles or challenges or doubts. But it does mean that I have access to a God who faces those trials with me when I remember to have a little faith in a big God. 




Aurea Sadi

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