19th Sunday (C ) 10 August 2025 Security
When we talk about faith, there are two meanings. Faith is an intellectual assent to what is stated in the creeds. And faith is trust, trusting in God not to let us down.
It is this sense of trust that Jesus is asking of us in today’s Gospel. Faith is the opposite of fear or doubt. I cannot be afraid if I am on trusting terms with God.
Though ten thousand rise against me (Ps 3,6).
Though the stalls
stand empty of cattle (Hab 3,17). Though the mountains may fall (Is 54,10) –
yet will I trust in the Lord, and I will not fear.
In all these texts our security is found in God, not in the lesser things we are inclined to rely on - such as money, physical protection, locked doors.
In all trials I will stand firm. We have many saints, especially the martyrs, to inspire us by their example.
We have direct access to God's grace and power through prayer and sacraments.
How can we lose? The only way we can lose all this is if we neglect the sources of help which are provided. If we do not pray, nor meditate on these things, and put them into practice, we will be fearful always, unless we change direction.
Jesus tells us not to trust things of earth which thieves or moths can destroy (Lk 12,33-34) Better to build up one’s treasure in Heaven where we will collect it one day.
It is like having shares in a company - we have a share in God. We cannot possess Him but we can share in His life.
We do what we can to stay safe, to stay alive. We are careful what we eat, careful crossing the road, careful going out alone, wearing seat belts, locking the house, and money in the bank etc.
These things are all good in their way, but our real security, the one that cannot be taken from us is to be in a state of union with God.
This union is the basis of our trusting God. He will not let us down. Either He will give us what we ask, or something different, at least equally good.
Filled with trust in Him we can then be like the servants who will be found being active when the Master returns. (Lk 12,42-48)
We will do things He wants us to do, whether great or small, from choosing a career to helping a stranger.
We will not grow slack with the passing of time, but use all the time remaining to us to make known the kingdom of God.
The word ‘security’ might convey that we are hiding in shelters, just trying to survive. The stronger disciples are proactive, seeking out ways of serving the Lord.
In our way of looking at things, even to die for Christ can be seen as the work of an active servant.
Our concept of success and failure is different from the world’s. Look at Our Lord Himself. To die on the Cross seemed a very strange way of spreading the kingdom but that is what happened.
We might face unexpected challenges, but we trust that God will bring a good result from it all.
We face many difficulties, but God is bigger than all of them. And to the extent that we ourselves might doubt His power or goodness, He can help with that too.
Many despair but not us. For us it is hope and faith, all the way to the gates of Heaven.
We thank God for His faithfulness to us!
No comments:
Post a Comment