321st Meditation
“My Father, who has given them [the sheep] to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand” (Jn 10:29).
In the hands of our Saviour, in which the Father has placed us, we can pass safely through the time of our earthly life and face in the right way the dangers that come our way. They can never gain power over us, no matter how threatening they may seem. Think of the Lord’s victory on the Cross: the powers of darkness thought they had triumphed; but in reality it was the hour of their defeat.
No one can snatch us out of the Father’s hand, but it is we ourselves who can refuse the hand He holds out to us. Nevertheless, it will remain outstretched until the last moment, for us to take it with gratitude.
If we live as true children of God, these words of the Lord apply fully and in all situations. Sheltered in our Father’s love, we live in true and ultimate freedom and security, which no one else can give us or take away from us. We need this freedom and security for our service, especially when we find ourselves in a hostile environment. Nothing should discourage us! If we take these words of the Lord into the depths of our soul, they will give us courage and strength. If we act with this courage, God will grant us the gift of strength.
Then the soul will become more and more awakened, and the discouragement into which she easily falls in the face of the apparent preponderance of evil will be removed. In the concrete situations in which she feels threatened or really is threatened, she remembers the words of Jesus and repeats them in her heart: “no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand”.
This is the truth, which will prevail because the Father always keeps His word and is able to bring everything to fruition!