6th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C:Jer 17:5-8, Ps 1:1-4,6, 1 Cor 15:12,16-20, Lk 6:17,20-26
If you have ever been betrayed by those you trusted you will understand what people mean when they say: “I’ll never trust anyone ever again!” Yet we often want to advice or tell the person that this feeling will change someday and they will, hopefully, be able to trust again. Those that have gone through this path know how difficult it is to heal from trust issues. But I ask: can we completely do without trusting people in this world?
Today the Word of God creates a poser for us: It is better to trust in God than to trust in men! But life experiences have equally shown that trusting God is not easy. Many who claim to trust God discover it is easier when times are good but difficult in hard times!
If trusting God is better, why is it so? And how do we trust God in difficult times? If you’re passing through tough times or having trust issues this message is for you. And if you want to know more, continue reading slowly…
Jer 17:5-8
The Lord says this: ‘A curse on the man who puts his trust in man, who relies on things of flesh, whose heart turns from the Lord. He is like dry scrub in the wastelands: if good comes, he has no eyes for it, he settles in the parched places of the wilderness, a salt land, uninhabited.
‘A blessing on the man who puts his trust in the Lord, with the Lord for his hope. He is like a tree by the waterside that thrusts its roots to the stream: when the heat comes it feels no alarm, its foliage stays green; it has no worries in a year of drought, and never ceases to bear fruit.’
POINTS FOR REFLECTION
1. Child of God, trust is having confidence or reliance on some person or quality. It also involves dependence on that person or thing. The prophecy of Jeremiah above resounds the words of the Psalm 1 that blesses those that trust in God and curses they that trust in men. This is not just some religious principles but a natural one as well, showing that total reliance on men and their strength is vain. Hence we often say trusting in men is dangerous because men can fail you! The bible supports it when in the Psalm we read: And then I said in my alarm no man can be trusted (Ps 117:15).
2. But can we totally do without trusting men? No! Imagine what life would be like if we never trusted anyone. We are social beings and need to trust others, at least to a certain degree in order to be able to do some basic things like eat foods we buy or drink, or get married or do business. It is trust that makes us feel safe doing these without fear of being poisoned or cheated. We also need to trust institutions like the bank where we save money and the restaurant from which we purchase food to eat. Simply put, we need some levels of trust in order to live our life without being self-sufficient, doing everything by ourselves. It is not this type of trust under examination that the Lord condemns but putting humans first in our endeavours.
3. What does it mean to Trust in God? To trust God is to have total and unwavering confidence or reliance in God. This is expressed in believing in God’s reliability, God’s Word, God’s Ability, and God’s Strength. The Bible says that God is not man that He should lie (cf. Num 22:19; Titus 1:2; Heb 6:18). That God always keeps His promises (Cf. Jos 21:45; 2Cor 1:20). That God loves you and has good plans for you (Jer 29:11). Trusting in God also means believing what God says about Himself, about the world and about you is true (Isa 45:18). And I say Trusting God is NOT ‘putting God first’! Yes you heard me well. Putting God first is a sign we have things we have put second, like our abilities and wealth, connections, etc. But trusting in God is giving and surrendering to God all that concerns us.
TASK: Since you have known what it means to Trust in God, apply this to your daily bearing in mind that your trust will be put to test, especially in difficult moments. If you trust God you should tell Him all your difficulties, you should seek the truth in the Bible, Confess your unbelief and doubts to God, share your concerns with your faith community (or group), and walk with the light of the Holy Spirit.
I pray for you: May the Lord bless you and heal you from every trust issues, especially that caused by betrayal from those you have trusted. The bible says cast all your worries on Him because he cares for you (1 Pet 5;7). Say now: Lord I place before you (mention the names of those who have betrayed you). Today I forgive from my heart that I may receive divine forgiveness and healing. Holy Spirit of God I surrender to you, fill me now with the power to love and pray. AMEN
