HOMILY FOR THURSDAY OF THE FIRST WEEK OF ADVENT YEAR B.
HOMILY THEME: TRUST IN GOD ALWAYS
BY: Fr Evaristus Abu
“Thou dost keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusts in thee. Trust in the LORD for ever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.” Isaiah 26:3-4.
The essence and joy of Christmas is the re- assurance that God never fails; that he keeps his word and he deserves our complete trust. The God who did not fail mankind by sending his only begotten son Jesus to be born for us is a God who never fails. Hence as Christmas gradually approach, our readings these days have been rather assuring.
The prophet Isaiah today somehow reveals the secret of overcoming worry when he said: “You keep him in perfect peace the man whose mind is stayed on you because he trusts in you.” I mean, the only way we can find perfect peace of mind is by trusting completely in God. As long we try to trust in anything else other than in God, we are sure to have sleepless nights.
The honest truth is that we have grown over the years leaning to trust in human beings; and even when we have experienced disappointments again and again, we find ourselves falling back in trust. Best friends have been known to betray each other. You remember the story of Julius Ceasar? His last words were: “Et tu Brute?” meaning: “Even you Brutus?”
When we really look at it, no human being deserves our trust. People will fail us, machines will fail us, even money will fail us, all the security gadgets in the world are toys compared to Divine Security. Only God deserves our trust.
Jesus tells us “Everyone who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a man who built his house on Rock.” In other words, so long as we live by the words of God and keeps his ways, we can go to be bed and sleep freely. In keeping God’s commandments, we have no reason whatsoever to fear what anyone can do to us. Hence the Psalmist says: “In God alone be at rest my soul for my hope is in him.” Psalm 62:1,5.
Today is the memorial of St. Ambrose and somehow, even in the proper readings for the memorial, we are again assured of the need to put all our trust in God. there we hear Jesus describe himself as the Good Shepherd; the Shepherd who sacrifices his life to protect and provide for the sheep unlike other hirelings who flee when danger approaches.
Does it occur to me that I am just a sheep? That Jesus is my shepherd? Why do I have so much worries, fears and anxieties? Why do I live my life as if I am all alone; as if I am in charge of my destiny; as if I am responsible for my future?
Why do I forget or underestimate the place of God in my life? Why do I carry unnecessary burdens when I have a friend in Jesus? Why do I forget to pray when I become tensed? Let us ponder on these beautiful words of Psalm 118:5-9 –
“With the LORD on my side I do not fear.
What can man do to me?
The LORD is on my side to help me;
I shall look in triumph on those who hate me.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to put confidence in man.
It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to put confidence in princes.”
Let us pray: Lord Jesus, help me to trust in you and in nothing else. Amen.
St. Ambrose, Pray for us.
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