No fears… Let us trust in the Lord

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 evil.” In Matthew 6 and other places, the Lord constantly reminds us not to worry and 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 much easier said than done. I know in my
own life I tend to worry a lot, especially about what the future might hold. It’s very easy to become worried or afraid of anything and everything. Some of us might worry about what the future will bring, while others worry about when their next paycheck will come, how their kids are doing in school, or even about people from their past. Perhaps the biggest fear is the fear of the unknown, as so much of life is uncertain. We all struggle to deal with things beyond our control. So, what can we do? How do we face our fears and worries, whatever they may be?

The answer is quite simple: Trust in the Lord. We should trust that the Lord will always be there for us and provide for us. Let me be very clear: just because something is simple does not mean it is easy. Trusting can be one of the most challenging 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 restore. But the great thing about the Lord is that He will never betray us. He has made a promise to us—a covenant that He will always keep; a promise that He will always be with us, love us, and 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 mes- sages of love to the world.

Some 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 day, that is a constant reminder that the Lord is with us and that we can always trust Him.

Jesus, I trust in you!

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

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

Fr. Jorge Ramirez