“This is not ideal timing,” I thought to myself as I swiftly moved furniture out of one of the bedrooms in our house. My sisters, a few volunteers, and I were moving the furniture out of eight rooms in our house, so that the carpet could be removed and replaced with new flooring.
All of this was happening as we began campus ministry for the fall semester on Franciscan University’s main campus. Ideally, we would have been moved into our house weeks before school began, but this project needed to happen before we could move in. I was tired, and I kept thinking to myself, “Nothing is ready!” Our house was not ready, my office on campus was not ready, and my heart didn’t feel ready to begin ministry with the students either.
One day, in the midst of the busyness, one of our sisters received a call from our contractor. He explained to her that he was in the process of removing wood flooring from a house and it was in really good shape. He told us that we could have the wood for free! We were all so surprised and excited to hear the good news.
I was amazed by God the Father’s providence for us and I was slowly beginning to recognize His plan in it all. The wood was delivered to our house and piled into our living room. After it arrived, the sisters who were there looked at the wood with gratitude, but also with a twinge of doubt that it would be enough for eight whole rooms. In faith, one of the sisters suggested that they pray for God to multiply the wood, and so they did.
This scene reminds me of the Gospel passage in Matthew 14 that tells the story of Jesus multiplying the five loaves and the two fish. After they brought Jesus the little that they had, He prayed over the food and multiplied it for five thousand plus people. In their poverty, Jesus provided for them overabundantly. What strikes me as I reflect on this passage is that Jesus didn’t provide the food ahead of time. He provided the food for them right when they needed it.
Amazingly, after the wood floor was put into the rooms, we had more than enough! It was just like in the Gospel, when the bread and fish that Jesus multiplied were more than enough. Through all of this, Jesus has been showing me that, as my Spouse, He will always provide for me and His timing is perfect. He has been providing for me in ministry as well. As I meet with students, He whispers into my ear the words of truth to speak to them right when I need them.
In the Our Father, we pray, “Give us this day our daily bread.” I am so grateful that we have such a loving Father who provides for our needs daily. I am so thankful that Jesus daily nourishes us with His own Body and Blood. I pray that you have the grace to depend on God daily to provide for all of your needs.
-Sr. Agnes Maria Kilonsky, T.O.R.
