When he was at table with them, he took the bread. He blessed the bread, and broke it, and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognized him!(Luke 24:13-35)

Monday, July 6, 2020

Trust in the Lord



As the entire world suffers from the coronavirus pandemic and racial injustice, we’re struggling to find solutions while realizing that many of our leaders and institutions have failed us. I’m sure that many of us feel sheep without a shepherd. In my reflection today, I imagine Jesus looking down upon the Earth and , “at the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned.” (Matthew 9:32-38)

Those who placed their trust in Jesus, like the mute man, find healing and liberation. Those who fail to trust in Jesus, like the Pharisees, find demons and darkness.

The prophet Hosea warns against placing our trust in false gods: “With their silver and gold they made idols for themselves, to their own destruction.” (Hosea 8:4-7, 11-13) Where do we place our trust?

In these turbulent and challenging times, it’s tempting to place our trust in money and power. But we know that the coronavirus infects both the rich and the poor. We know that those entrusted with power, like our police force and government officials, can abuse that power. Others want to trust in themselves or in ideologies. But the coronavirus doesn’t discriminate based on what we believe or don’t believe. And much of the racial injustice we see today is embedded in systems built from toxic ideologies by individuals who also believed in themselves. We’re tempted to place our trust in science to “solve” the coronavirus pandemic. But this virus is brand new and there’s still too much we don’t know. Science has limits. God, however, is infinite.

It is in Him that we must place our trust: “The house of Israel trusts in the Lord.” (Psalm 115:9)

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