Trust

20 Dec

Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.
May it be done to me according to your word.”  (Lk 1:38)

The one word that probably best describes our weakness:  trust.

We are not people who trust easily.

I think it is hard-wired in our tainted, sinful human nature.

We don’t trust people.

We learn, from the time we are very young, to suspect everything.  “Make sure you read the fine print” is a phrase that we pick up quite early in life.  It tells us that we have to scrutinize everything.

Why?

Because we often feel/believe that we are being sold a “bill of goods” by someone else, that they are not telling us the entire story.

As we so often do, we apply our human standards to God.

We begin to distrust Him.

We doubt that He is even there for us.

In today’s Gospel, Mary exemplifies the virtue of trust.  She did not understand, completely, what the angel, Gabriel, was saying to her.  However, she knew one thing: she was God’s handmaid.  And, if God wanted her to do something, by golly, it was going to be done.

Trust.

It was good enough for Mary.

It’s good enough for us.

FAITH ACTION:  Pray the words of St. Francis de Sales slowly and reverently.  Listen to the words and try to embody them this day:

Do not look forward to the changes and chances of this life with fear. Rather, look to them with full confidence that, as they arise, God to whom you belong will in his love enable you to profit by them. He has guided you thus far in life. Do you but hold fast to His dear hand, and He will lead you safely through all trials. Whenever you cannot stand, He will carry you lovingly in his arms.

Do not look forward to what may happen tomorrow. The same Eternal Father who takes care of you today will take care of you tomorrow, and every day of your life. Either He will shield you from suffering or He will give you unfailing strength to bear it.

Be at peace then, and put aside all useless thoughts, all vain dreads and all anxious imaginations.