In today’s Gospel, Jesus said to his disciples, “do not be troubled; do not be afraid.”
My brothers and sisters in Christ, what does it means, “Do not be troubled, do not be afraid?” It means to “trust in the Lord.” I will use the example of a five-year-old child. The five-year-old child who completely trust in his parents to provide for all of his childhood needs, does he not trust in his parents to provide love, shelter, clothing, education, food, medication, religious upbringing, values, security and all the other basic necessities that will ensure him the fullness of his physical and spiritual growth? Does the five-year-old say, "I will go and find my own place to stay," or "I will go feed myself somewhere else?" No! He accepts with joy and thanksgiving all what his parents provide.
To trust in the Lord God is the same. It means that we as adults must accept with joy and thanksgiving all what God provides for our physical and spiritual needs according to the calling that we have received in life. It means acknowledging with joy and thanksgiving that the needs of a priest or a religious sister are different than those of a married couple. It means to acknowledge with joy and thanksgiving all things that the Lord God provides for each and every one of us according to our basic needs.
Why should we trust in God? It is because as God loved us first, He has trusted us first! All what we possess came from God! He trusted us with the care of the earth, the environment, all of His creations. He trusted parents with the souls of their children. During the Sacrament of Baptism, He trusted us with a new heart and a spirit. He trusted us with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. He trusted us with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. As members of the Body of Christ, He trusted us with the Holy Catholic Church. Each has been trusted with an abundance of things in accordance with his calling.
My brothers and sisters, the Lord God has trusted us with much. This week, let us reflect upon what has been placed in our trust. Let us reflect upon our trust towards the Lord God. And let us reflect upon our trust towards others. For what we do to others, we do to Jesus.