HOW MUCH DO YOU TRUST GOD?* (1Kgs. 17:10-16; Heb. 9:24-28; Mk. 12:38-44)
By REV. FR. PAUL ANIGBORO
Last week Sunday we talked about the commandments of love: To love God and to love our neighbour as ourselves. The commandment to love God invites us to do that with our whole being, strength and soul. It means that we should love God with everything we have and are. For a complete love of God to occur, there must be trust for *trust is a sign of genuine love, especially when the one we trust is God.*
The two widows in both the first and gospel readings today give us a perfect example of how to love God with our whole being. Whenever the OT talks about the poor, they often list 3 categories of people: the stranger, the orphan and the widow (Deut. 14:29). Also, the OT will always invite us to be sensitive to the needs of these three types of vulnerable people (Pss. 94:6; Jer. 7:11). It is in this context that both the first and gospel readings become important. While we are called to assist and help the poor (widows), the widows show to us the really meaning of being poor in spirit by their charity.
Jesus invites us to be “poor in spirit” (Mt 5:3). Therefore, the virtue of detachment or ‘poverty in spirit’ is not just a challenge for those who are rich in the material sense but for the poor, as well. The widows today give us this perfect example. They gave out what they lived on. Their very last food and penny was given out for God's course. The first widow in the first reading got her reward, but we were not told what happened to the widow in the gospel reading. Their kind deeds is a lesson on how to trust God completely.
We live in a world today where selfishness has become the order of the day. Many prefer to build accounts in millions and billions and they close their eyes to the need to a brother and sister. It is not a crime to acquire financial security but when you have enough for your needs and your still decide to to help or assist, then it becomes greed. We have Christians today who only give based on what they stand to receive. Such giving is not from the heart but a pragmatic way of giving. We have some who only give from the leftovers. Such giving does not hurt as their is still more in stock.
Today we are challenged with this question, how much do we trust God? Do we trust God enough to give him our whole heart and time? Do we trust God enough to give him everything we have and are made of? Do we trust God enough as to make ourself vulnerable in the presence of God? Do we trust God enough to be able to stand before God, with our arms open and empty, with our mind still searching for answers, and our heart ready to respond to the Grace of God? Or do we seek false security in our past achievements, in our name and fame, in our knowledge and education, in our material wealth, and in our attachment to people?
To trust God is to abandon everything at his feet and trust that he will take care of us. To love God is to trust in him. When there is not trust, there can't be love. The story of the widow in the gospel reminds us of certain persons in the gospels who abandoned everything to follow God. The first four disciples (Mtt. 4:22); Matthew the tax collector (Lk. 5:27-28); Zacchaeus (Lk. 19:9); Bartimaeus (Mk. 10:50); Samaritan woman (John 4:28). These people left it all and trust God and they became better for it.
What are you holding on to that is not making you to trust God completely? He will take care of you. You worth more than birds of the air and sparrows. Give God your whole being and heart and he will never disappoint you.
Lord, give me the grace of trusting you completely, that I may learn what true love is. Amen.
Good morning and do have a wonderful and restful Sunday. God loves you.
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