It is often the case that things don’t go exactly as we had planned. On some morning we might plan to get something done during that day, but something unexpected comes up and it does not work out as we had hoped. On a larger scale, some plan we might have had for our career or our family does not happen. There are different possible responses to our plans not working out, short of completely giving up in hopelessness.
In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus’ plans for Himself and His disciples did not work out as He had hoped. He planned for them to go away to a deserted place for a time of rest and reflection because they had been so busy. However, when they reached that deserted place, they found that the crowd had gotten there before of them. Rather than becoming angry at this intrusion on their time of retreat, Jesus was moved with pity for the people. His plans had to be changed. Something else happened that served God’s purpose.
Whenever our own plans go awry, sometimes something better can replace them, if we are flexible and open. God’s plan is always greater than our plans. Whenever we have to let go of our plans in place of His plan, the LORD’s life-giving purpose for our lives always abounds.+
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