"Unexpected Answers": A Reflection on The Psalm for July 29th, 2018: Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

PS 145:10-11, 15-16, 17-18

R. The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.

Let all your works give you thanks, O LORD,
and let your faithful ones bless you.
Let them discourse of the glory of your kingdom
and speak of your might.

R. The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.

The eyes of all look hopefully to you,
and you give them their food in due season;
you open your hand
and satisfy the desire of every living thing.

R. The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.

The LORD is just in all his ways
and holy in all his works.
The LORD is near to all who call upon him,
to all who call upon him in truth.
​
R. The hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.

Last May, my family celebrated the 11th year of our landing here in Halifax. About 15 years ago, Canada was not on our radar at all. We were leading comfortable lives and there was really no need for us to seek our fortunes elsewhere. But there was a hunger in our hearts for God, a hunger to be always in the right with Him; to do His will for us. And He spoke...

One of the comments to us then, was that we were no longer 'spring chickens'. “What? Start all over again? In Canada?” This was what we usually heard from friends and family. There were so many obstacles to our coming over.

I am the youngest of 6 children. As such, I was in charge of all the business for the family. My parents' house was for sale and there was no one we could leave the business affairs to—including the care of our home—since my siblings were older and ‘not up to it’. I felt that I would not be able to leave in peace if these two properties were not sold, so I prayed for a quick solution because the deadline to submit our application for immigration was coming up.

A group of priests came to view our home, and they were interested in buying it (it was right across from their spirituality centre). They had a big problem, though. They did not have the funds to purchase it. We continued to pray, and one month later, the priests made their downpayment. Then, on the day that we left for Canada, the keys to my parents’ home were turned over... to a congregation of nuns who would make it their convent. I never cease to be amazed at how God resolved these two obstacles for us.

It is true, it was difficult to start over. But God—in His mighty way—just made things happen for us. He ‘gave us our food in due season’ by allowing us to land jobs here in Canada to sustain us. Our parish sustains our spiritual life. We could not ask for more. Above all, He is always near for us to call on Him.

I often think that God must feel bruised by the many times I call on Him for help, for guidance, for inspiration and for healing. However, He always delivers—oftentimes surprising me when my prayers are answered not in the way I asked for. His creativity knows no end. I am deeply humbled that He would treat me as someone so special to Him. I give Him thanks!

​Liz Venezuela

"Above all, He is always near for us to call on Him."
​- Liz Venezuela (Ora Reflections)