A Magnificent Seven (02/15/2025)

This week the weather was horrible; we had a snowstorm followed by really low temps. I was worried about attendance for our council of women at our parish. We had much to accomplish, but I wondered if anyone would venture out in such conditions. I prayed: LORD, I know it has never been about quantity but rather quality. This evening, may we be blessed to accomplish your will.

The president and I were there early. We got things ready, the tables set up for the gathering, the snacks laid out, the handouts ready, the sign-up table ready for volunteers. Then we sat down and waited. The meeting time came, and still it was just we two. Then we heard the doors. We had a third. A few minutes later, we were joined by a fourth. The weather was impacting speed, arrivals were slow, but by 15 minutes after the designated time, we were up to 7. I thought to myself, 7 is a magnificent number. And I recalled all the LORD could do with 7. With 7 days the LORD created the world and still had time for rest. With 7 loaves of bread, the LORD fed a multitude of over 4000 (Matthew 8).

And we had a very productive and meaningful meeting. We began with prayer. We made plans for our next service project, the Soup Supper, a free meal for the community. And we discussed ways we can serve our LORD through service to our sisters and brothers. We are going to reach out to two local options for feeding the homeless, the hungry, the lonely. And we are reaching out to an institution helping mothers.

That night, as I finished my long day, I went for time with the LORD to give thanks and to seek the LORD’s help in making sense of everything which I’ve found I can only truly do in His presence with His help. As I pondered, I realized how the LORD had done it again. As I thought of the women gathered for the meeting, I thought of their faith, I thought of their willingness to share themselves, their time, their ideas, their concerns. I thought of the prayer we began with and the reading from Hebrews 10: 23-24: Let us hold unwaveringly to our confession that gives us hope, for He who made the promise is trustworthy. We must consider how to rouse one another to love and good works.” LORD, I prayed, how do You do it?

As I continued to ponder, I remembered the LORD’s stirring before the meeting and the prayer He inspired me to pray, not for the LORD’s sake but my own. It has never been about quantity. It has always been about quality. And as I mentally recalled the women at the table, I could see a magnificent seven whom the LORD had caught that night to further His mission. The LORD is indeed a master at fishing with nets that catch us for His mission.

We few would have appeared inadequate, perhaps, to the world at large. But gathered in faith, believing in the mission of Christ in our time and in our place, we came to participate. We magnificent seven weren’t magnificent because of us, but rather because of what the LORD was able to do in us, with us, and through us. We were modest and humble ingredients with which the LORD was able to draw forth His will for His ongoing mission.

As we continue on our journeys of faith, hope and love, let us always remember that it truly isn’t about quantity. It has always been about quality. Let us bring ourselves to the LORD who can take what appears to be inadequate – insufficient – and magnify it through His love into something magnificent. And let us remember to remain open to the LORD’s stirring, to the LORD’s inspiration, to the LORD’s love and will. And let us await with confidence the magnificence the LORD can bring forth.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.