By Sister Julianna, O.C.D.
As Carmelites, our ears perk up whenever we hear garden imagery. You may or may not know, “Carmel” in Hebrew means the Garden of God. The enclosed garden of your soul is the place where the Lord desires to rest and delight. Yes, your soul! You might think, how can I be a worthy place for God to rest? And yet, he told St. Faustina, “Your heart is my heaven.” Each soul is meant to be a place of rest for God, to be in relationship with Him.
You might feel uncomfortable to imagine inviting God there. You feel your soul to be, perhaps, not the neatest nor the most welcoming place. For many, noise, work, people, entertainment keep one from entering that sacred place. In fact, the garden can feel like a “wilderness.” But from today’s Mass readings, we receive a great sign of hope. Joseph is sold into slavery by his siblings and Jesus foretells the rejection of His own people. Could evil really triumph over good? Yet in God’s eyes, the heavy reality of evil does not have the last word.
Joseph was rejected and sold by his brothers. Yet, through a series of events, he finds himself saving the world from famine, even his own brothers! This is GOD’s work! Jesus Christ was rejected and executed…AND rose on the third day. This is GOD working!
The Heavenly Father is not seeking to put us “wretched men to a wretched death” but to forgive and heal and restore. When we have contributed to the wilderness of our soul through sin, through rejection of Jesus, remember:
The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
by the Lord has this been done,
and it is wonderful in our eyes?
Isn’t it wonderful in our eyes to see that He can transform moments of rejection into moments of repentance, forgiveness and grace? And we can humbly and gratefully receive. The Heavenly Father only desires to forgive us and heal us and to restore His garden!
