The associated reading for this reflection can be found in your Every Sacred Sunday Mass journal or online here.
While dating, my husband and I dreamt about having a large family. We had our first son, then our second son 18 months later. It was then that I realized that I was not cut out to have a large family. Having two rambunctious little boys, so close together in age, made me begin to question having any more children. It’s not as if children have an accompanying “owners manual” for each specific make and model. You have to figure out parenting every step of the way. So I began to formulate a speech in my mind on how I would tell my husband that I really couldn’t have any more children. Nope. Not me. I was not meant to be a mother. I was done. Cup was full.
And then when our second son was just four months old, God decided it was time to breathe a new soul into me. Thirteen months later, I had a third son. But when I found out I was pregnant for the third time, I realized God was trying to talk to me, just like He spoke to Abram in the first reading. God was telling Abram that he would have many descendants. Unlike Abram, however, I didn’t understand how to trust in God’s plan for me. I had to do some serious praying to finally understand the last words Mother Mary said in the Gospels: Do whatever He tells you.
Of course, Mother Mary was correct. We need to do whatever He tells us, even when we may not see the plan or understand how we, in our weakness and frailties, can accomplish anything that would be worthy of God’s attention. But when we are obedient to God’s will, the peace that comes with obedience surpasses all understanding.
In today’s Gospel, we see Peter wanting to build three tents to give glory and honor to God. But he listened to God’s voice telling him to listen to Jesus. Jesus said no tents and Peter obeyed.
I learned to obey God’s will in my life, too. And life is beautiful! I have eight natural children and one adopted daughter. I understand now that when you invite God into your life, and when you pray the Our Father and say, “Thy will be done,” the blessings will always be as countless as the stars in the sky.
Carol McHale is happily married to Bob for 29 years. During the day she is a full time staff member at a law school in Washington, DC and by night she enjoys the company of her adult children and granddaughters. Carol and Bob are looking forward to being empty nesters, the next chapter of their life long adventure.