How many times have we heard the message of Psalm 23 which says, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff comfort me.” “Fear not” and “do not worry” are messages that the Lord gives us in multiple places in the gospels. It occurs in one of my favorite passages in the Bible, Matthew 6:34, where Jesus says “do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil.” In Matthew, Chapter 6, and other places, the Lord is constantly reminding us not to worry, not to be afraid. Whether it be about the future, about others, even about death and the afterlife.

Now, I don’t know about you, but I know that this is a lot easier said than done. I know in my own life I tend to worry about a lot, particularly about what the future might bring. It is very easy to get worried or afraid about anything and everything. Some of us might be worried about what the future will bring. Others worry about when their next paycheck will come, how their kids are doing in school, sometimes even about individuals from their past. Perhaps the biggest fear is the fear of the unknown. So much of life is the unknown. We all struggle to cope with what we cannot control. So, what can we do? How do we face our fears and worries, whatever they may be?

The answer is actually quite simple: we have to trust in the Lord because He will always be there for us. Now, let me be very clear: just because something is simple, it does not mean that it is also easy. Trusting can be one of the most difficult things for a person to do. For those who have been betrayed by someone they trusted, learning to trust again can be extremely difficult. When trust is broken, it can sometimes be nearly impossible to get it back. But the great thing about the Lord is that He will never betray us. He has made a promise to us, a covenantal bond that He will always keep; a promise that He will always be with us, always love us, and always care for us.

While it is difficult to trust, those of us who find it easier to trust in the Lord can help those who struggle. How? Well, we see the answer in the Gospel. What the Lord speaks to us in the quiet of our hearts, we must proclaim from the rooftops. It is up to us to go out and proclaim the message of love that the Lord has given us. That’s why it’s so important to continue to maintain a relationship with the Lord. When the Lord speaks to us, we can proclaim those messages of love to the world.

A couple years ago, on the Feast of Corpus Christi, Bishop Matano inaugurated the Year of the Eucharist, in conjunction with the 150th anniversary of our diocese. Bishop Matano reminded us that the Eucharist is the ultimate symbol of God’s love for us, the promise that He would always be with us and remain with us. It is the Eucharist, which we celebrate every week, that is a constant reminder that the Lord is with us, and that we can always trust Him.

So, there will always be reasons to worry and fear. Life brings us hardships and difficulties. It’s almost impossible not to worry or be afraid at some points in our lives. The good news is that we have a God who we can trust to take care of us and provide for us. Even the mystery of death can be worry free. As long as we continue to bring Christ’s message to the world, we have His promise that He will acknowledge us before our Father in Heaven, and we will one day be united with Him in Paradise.

Jesus, I trust in you!

Remember, The parish that we dream is the parish that I help to build!

God bless you, and may the Blessed Virgin Mary be with you always!

Fr. Jorge Ramirez

Holy Trinity Church… 165 years evangelizing!