GETTING TO THE HEART OF THE MATTER

INTRODUCTION      "Getting to the Heart of the Matter" is what Sister Mary Lucy Astuto pinpoints in every issue when she takes a common sense approach to living our faith with her practical columns. In this issue, she begins a two part series on the fact we often jump to conclusions and, often, unfairly to the other person. Today she completes her two parter with a story on two angels which clearly illustrates her point in her column, APPEARANCES CAN BE DECEIVING part two.

     Her column provides effective, vital insights into our faith and ways of fulfilling God's Will every day in every way. You can visit Sr. Lucy at her web site for Heart of Mary Ministry at http://www.heartofmaryministry.com or you can reach her at Srmarylucy@aol.com by e-mail.

APPEARANCES CAN BE DECEIVING part two

      Someone sent me the following story by e-mail. Though fictitious, it teaches a true and powerful lesson. I just had to share it with you!

      Two traveling angels stopped to spend the night in the home of a wealthy family. The family was rude and refused to let the angels stay in the mansion's guest room. Instead the angels were given a space in the cold basement. As they made their bed on the hard floor, the older angel saw a hole in the wall and repaired it. When the younger angel asked why, the older angel replied..."Things aren't always what they seem."

      The next night, the pair came to rest at the house of a very poor, but very hospitable farmer and his wife. After sharing what little food they had, the couple let the angels sleep in their bed where they could have a good night's rest.

      When the sun came up the next morning, the angels found the farmer and his wife in tears. Their only cow, whose milk had been their sole income, lay dead in the field. The younger angel was infuriated and asked the older angel, "How could you have let this happen? The first man had everything, yet you helped him," the first angel accused. "The second family had little but was willing to share everything, and you let their cow die."

      "Things aren't always what they seem," the older angel replied. "When we stayed in the basement of the mansion, I noticed there was gold stored in that hole in the wall. Since the owner was so obsessed with greed and unwilling to share his good fortune, I sealed the wall so he wouldn't find it. Then last night, as we slept in the farmer’s bed, the angel of death came for the farmer's wife. I gave the angel the cow instead. Things aren't always what they seem."

      Sometimes, this is exactly what happens when things don't turn out the way we think they should. If you have faith, you just need to trust that every outcome is always to your advantage. You might not know it, however, until some time later.

      So let us try to remember, that nothing can happen to us that is not within the Providence of God.

      God is weaving a beautiful tapestry with our lives on this earth. Right now, we only see the side with all the cut strings, and the picture doesn’t look very beautiful. But one day, God will show us the other side - His Work - and we shall be amazed at the beauty He has wrought with our lives and we shall praise and bless Him forever.

      Hope your Lent is a prayerful and sacrificial one. If so, we are giving God beautiful thread with which to weave the beautiful tapestry.

      God bless you!

February 19-21, 1999       volume 10, no. 35
GETTING TO THE HEART OF THE MATTER by Sister Mary Lucy Astuto
DAILY CATHOLIC