Our Wise God

A Reflection on the First Reading for Sunday, June 16th, 2024:
Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

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Ezekiel
​17.22-24

Thus says the Lord God:

“I myself will take a sprig from the lofty top of a cedar; I will set it out. I will break off a tender one from the topmost of its young twigs; I myself will plant it on a high and lofty mountain.

“On the mountain height of Israel I will plant it, in order that it may produce boughs and bear fruit, and become a noble cedar. Under it every kind of bird will live; in the shade of its branches will nest winged creatures of every kind.

“All the trees of the field shall know that I am the Lord. I bring low the high tree, I make high the low tree; I dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish. I the Lord have spoken; I will accomplish it.”

Pause. Pray. Reflect.

​There is no one wiser than our God. He knows who needs to be broken off of which tree. He is the one Who gives, and the one Who takes away. He separates us from habits and desires that were once intrinsic to us. He takes us away from people we once thought it would be impossible to survive without. From personal experience, He takes us away from places that were once a part of our identity.

Why does He do this? 

He does this so that He, Himself, can plant us on “a high and lofty mountain.” As biblical imagery goes, a mountain is a sign of intimacy with the Lord. God does this uprooting to bring us closer to Him. All He wants is to be near us. He, the Divine Lover, wants to be near me; He wants to be near you; He wants to be near to every single human being, whether they know Him or not.

Indeed, love is willing the good of the other. The Divine Lover wills our good. He transplants us so that we may “bear fruit” and become a “noble cedar.” He cares about our thriving, even when we do not. He wants us to prosper. And He knows that our prosperity lies in coming to the aid of others. He re-plants us so that we can flourish. And in our flourishing we can render “shade” to others. 

What’s more, He gives us the strength to be a pillar of hope, faith, and love to others. We are the pillars whose foundation is none other than God. Only God can make a broken twig the pillar that holds structures up. Nothing is impossible for our wise God, who knows the beginning from the end. 

Heavenly Father, help me trust in your wise plans for my life. Help me not to seek to control the outcome of situations and circumstances around me. Help me rely on your unfailing help, and help me come to terms with your ever-present guidance. I ask all of this in the name of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.




Rebecca Dmello

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