The Abundance of Goodness

“HE has been good to me. I am not worthy, but HE has been good to me.” These are words that came from a sincere heart. A life that looks back and forward and sees the Divine presence, full of providence, consolation and hope.

Now this does not mean that there are no struggles in the life of this person. It does not mean that this person has nothing else that remains to be fulfilled in life, no more ends to meet. His life is still a struggle, I am pretty sure we can all say that about our lives. Fortunately he calls it the struggle to be perfect (he takes St. Matt. 5:48 pretty seriously).

The goodness of God can be experience only when one is ready to taste it. The Source of all Goodness does not enforce himself upon us. On the contrary He simply invites us to go and experience the abundance of goodness that flows from him. The life that takes the invitation seriously and goes to the great banquet of goodness, mercy, forgiveness and above all the banquet of holiness lacks nothing. It is such a life that can stand amidst the most tremulous moments of life and say…. HE has been good to me. 

When we decide to attend a banquet to which we have been invited, we make sure that we are dressed according to the ethos of the event and are well groomed. The best is offered from our side as well. We have kept away the ‘other options and avenues’ where we would have placed us. Attending the Divine Banquet of goodness, in a similar manner, requires us to keep our lives free from other engagements, to wear the right attire and attitude so that we become a part of the host’s friends and company, and not left alone because of our silliness and laziness. We offer our best to acquire the best. Offering our best – now that has a sacrificial tone to it, resounding the words of Romans 12:1 and the acquisition of the best – holds the tone of an outpour of grace, far beyond our comprehension.