In this episode of Father Simon Says, Father Richard Simon reflects on two striking passages of Scripture that reveal both the tenderness of God and the humility of Jesus. From Isaiah comes one of the most consoling lines in the Old Testament: “Can a mother forget her infant…? Even should she forget, I will never forget you.” Father Simon acknowledges the reality of a fallen world, but that is exactly what makes God’s promise so astonishing. His love is steadier than human affection, more faithful than our best intentions, and never withdrawn from His people.

Father Simon lingers on that truth because it speaks directly to wounded hearts. Even when Zion cries, “The Lord has forsaken me,” the Lord answers with mercy. He does not abandon His afflicted ones. He leads them, guides them, and remains with them in exile, sorrow, and confusion. It is a reminder that divine love is not sentimental. It is steadfast.

From there, Father Simon turns to the Gospel of John, where Jesus says, “The Son cannot do anything on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing.” That line becomes the key to understanding Christ’s miracles. Jesus is not performing wonders as spectacle or for self-display. Rather, the works of Christ are signs of the Father’s love, prophetic acts meant to reveal God’s presence and draw people to faith.

That insight also becomes a challenge for us. Father Simon warns against confusing our own interpretation of God’s will with God’s will itself. Like those who criticized Jesus for healing on the Sabbath, we can become so attached to our own judgments that we miss what God is actually doing. The lesson is one of humility: we are called not to control others in God’s name, but to seek obedience, prayerfully, faithfully, and in communion with the Church.

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When God’s Love Is More Dependable Than Ours (Father Simon Says)