Fr Bonnie Inspirations

Once upon a time, a boy was taking a walk with his grandfather through a park, and suddenly they come to a little bridge with a stream beneath meaning to cross over to the other side. Sensing that the little boy would be scared because of the shaky bridge, the grandpa says to the boy “come on! Joe hold my hand!” The boy replies and says to him, “grandpa you hold my hand instead!”. “What’s the difference?” The grandfather cuts in and turning to him the boy says, “well grandpa, there is a big difference. If I hold your hand and something happens, and I slip, I may let go of your hand. But if you hold my hand, I know for sure that no matter what happens, you will never let my hand go!” What an expression of trust!

Trust is one word we hear very often from parents, teachers, preachers, politicians, doctors, lawyers and marketers of goods and services. There is so much talk about trust, but we trust only to see ourselves in the trash. I have seen people who say they don’t trust anyone because of one experience or the other. Some people trusted their spouses and got the worst hit in their lives. Family and friends have betrayed some people, and they ask, “who can be trusted?”

Trust Brings Blessings

In the First Reading today (Jeremiah 17:5-8) we hear God making a very profound statement which among other things indicates that curse is on anyone who trusts in human beings, seek strength in the flesh, and whose heart turns away from the Lord. On the contrary, the oracle of the Lord states that blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose hope is the Lord. The prophecy gives more description of the two individuals. While the person who trust in human beings would be like a barren bush in the desert that enjoys no change of season, the one who trusts in the Lord is like a tree planted beside the waters that enjoy a steady supply of water even in the seasons of drought.

In the Gospel Reading today (Luke 6:17, 20-26), we hear our Lord’s beatitudes where he ascribes “blessedness” to individuals with various spiritual and moral aptitudes. The individuals that are mentioned in the Lord’s enlistment in the beatitudes share one thing in common, and that is “trust in God.”  It takes trust to go through poverty, hunger, weeping, hatred, and insults and still cling unto God.

In life, we always choose as to where we put our trust and where we put your trust determines how far you can go in life. You may have numerous reasons for no servicing the virtue of your trust in your life. It could be because you lost your spouse, child, a close relative or a relationship you cherished. Yes, things happen, and there would always be one challenge or the other, that is life.

In all these things and more, a man called Job still trusted in God and exclaimed, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there; the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21). For this reason, God tells us to be still and know that He is God (Psalm 46:10) and He knows the end of your life from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10). Your trust could turn things around to blessings.

Moving Forward!

From your human calculation, the pitfalls in your life may be unreasonable. God often allows us to go through the University of adversity, where troubles are teachers and problems are professors. The Book of Proverbs (3:5) advises us to trust in the Lord with all our hearts and not to lean on our understanding. Your understanding may tell you that you can do it by yourself, that something is wrong with you or that God hates you, your knowledge may tell you that you are incapable! No, God loves you, and you need to trust Him.

As we march into a new week, there is an urgent need for us to revamp the level of your trust in God. Remember, when you stop trusting in God, you start rusting. Have a beautiful and a trust-full week ahead.

Fr. Bonnie.