By Fr. Henry Charles Umelechi
When we look at this world and her events critical without bias, one sincerely discovers an out play of the divine and human. It would be sure that certain occurrances are very inexplicable no matter the amount of investigation involved, be it scientific, psychological, social, etc.
Such gives the people of faith an encouragement that SOMEONE out there is still interested in what He has made, the world and thus never absconded, unlike those who posit by empiricism that God is not, and others who posit that even if God is, He has exited the stage and therefore, we are on our own.
However, the people of faith by personal witnessing and experience concludes that not only that God is, but also that GOD DOES NOT EXIT.
Withal, this position generates another extreme of believers in various ranks and files, who depend solely on the Providence of God, to the extent of not having a plan to work out the resources for achieving their endeavors.
In effect, some have dubbed it saintly but I have dubbed it extortion, for indirectly forcing the hand of God. For how can one depend entirely on SOMEONE who owes him nothing to the extent that the dependant contributes nothing but faith in ALL endeavors? That’s not faith but extortion. That’s not faith in God but extorting or exaggerating God’s mercy and benevolence.
Look at the Curé d’Ars, St. Jean-Marie-Baptiste Vianney(1786-1859), who is widely known for practically and spiritually showing people the way to heaven.
In one instance as demonstatred by Abbé Francois Trochu. When Curé d’Ars was erecting a chapel of St. John the Baptist, “he made himself responsible for the full cost of its altar. He owed 500 francs to the carpenter and even all his share of the paternal inheritance had gone into it.”
This gave Curé d’Ars, St. John Vianney grave anxiety and even the carpenter pressed for payment. One day, “feeling very worried, poor Fr. Vianney left his house in order to get some relief from his anxiety. Whilst he was thus walking along the roads near the church, he met a woman, unknown to him, who asked him: ‘Are you M. le Curé d’Ars?’
On his replying in the affirmative, the woman handed him 600 francs for his charities.”
Trochu states verily that “though the Curé d’Ars deemed the incident an extraordinary intervention on the part of God, he did not dare to draw the conclusion that henceforth Divine Providence would be his banker. On the contrary, cautious both by nature and grace, he declared that he has had a lesson and that he would never again incure such risks. So, he made it a rule to pay in advance, except in extraordinary circumstances.”
Now, paying in advance could only be possible by proper planning and not by leaving the day or project to be run by God alone in the name of faith, charity, and other excuses that we use to exaggerate God’s mercy and benevolence. He who must invoke Divine Providence must be ready to WORK WITH GOD and not test God.
St. Jean-Marie-Baptiste Vianney(1786-1859), was a French Catholic priest and today is the Patron Saint of Parish Priests.
©Fr. Henry Charles Umelechi
Also read: Why Catholics abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday?