Thursday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time

Probably one of the most common struggles Christians have as they grow in their relationship with God is to trust.

Most spiritual journeys progress from intellectual learning to prayers and seeking. Eventually the believer starts to remember to incorporate Christ’s teachings and commandments into their life. This can take months or years or decades.

But as they grow in knowledge and faith they like all of us struggle and find life isn’t any less eventful now that they follow Christ but their is a sense of joy and peace at times they didn’t have before. And through life’s challenges choices have to be made. Some are small steps that ask us to decide a choice and we say yes to a path that aligns with Gods will for our life.

Sometimes bigger decisions confront us. And we are facing moral issues or decisions that will conflict from the world and our friends. We can say no to popular movies or activities that are excessive or damaging to ourselves or others. A voice inside says it’s no big deal. Go ahead God loves everyone and you will certainly not be in trouble for just one deviation. And how we decide determines if we progress or have to turn away later and realize our failing and strive to do better. Confession is the way back. 

And along the way of our journey we will hear voices in our head like all people. Some will try to convince us to turn away from this extreme Christian way and take a moderate course. Some will want us to make decisions based on fear or anger. But all these voices are from the evil one. 

As mature Christians we must be able to discern which voice to follow. That is where prayer and mass and adoration help us as we read more about our faith and learn more and more. 

Hopefully we get to a point where we say no to the world even though the outcome may mean facing difficult situations. If we choose not to live with someone we love we will fear loss of that relationship. If we trust in Jesus and his teachings. But we will find our relationship with God grows. 

If we choose to not indulge in excessive drinking or participate in late night activities that would prevent us from attending mass, we may lose friends but we will grow closer to God. And our ability to trust increases.

Trusting God is something that many of us find we have to reaffirm regularly because new challenges are faced and consequences get bigger. 

Trust in the face of overwhelming rejection by others if difficult. Trust when life would be easier to go along with a secular life where anything goes is hard.

Eventually if we continue to say yes to choices that bring us toward God we will see those choices were best. It may mean less money. Being alone for awhile. 

There will always be lots of voices in our head. But the voice of God is never telling us to be fearful or mean or vengeful. Gods voice will always tell us to love, be charitable, be patient. To help others and keep our path aligned toward God. 

Today we are called to trust and that when our will is aligned with his, we will find our answers and say through life.