The Benefits of Trust in God
The Vatican recently named the first-ever American-born person to be an official “martyr,” considered to be a step in the process to be declared a saint.
Though a Catholic, I’m not a fan of the canonization process. I do believe, however, that it’s valuable for those of us searching for God to know about people like us who were apparently successful in their search.
And the newly declared martyr, Stanley Rother, who was murdered in Guatemala in 1981, was like many of us. He grew up in a small farming community in Oklahoma. A mediocre student, he liked to work with his hands. In the small village in Guatemala, where he spent 13 years, he built a farmers’ co-op, a school, a hospital, and the first Catholic radio station, which was used for catechesis to the even more remote villages.
Padre Francisco
When he arrived there, the Mayan Indians in the village had no native equivalent for “Stanley,” so they called him Padre Francisco after his baptismal name of Francis. According to witnesses, the beloved Padre Francisco was known for his kindness, selflessness, joy and attentive presence among his parishioners.
But a violent civil war was raging in Guatemala, much of it waged by the government against native peoples. Disappearances, killings and danger soon became a part of daily life, but Padre Francisco remained steadfast and supportive of his people.
“The reality is that we are in danger …but if it is my destiny that I should give my life here, then so be it…. “The shepherd cannot run at the first sign of danger. Pray for us that we may be a sign of the love of Christ for our people, that our presence among them will fortify them to endure these sufferings in preparation for the coming of the Kingdom.”
Rother obviously had the kind of trust in God that ignores fear and anxiety, that shoves aside worries about success or failure, the kind of trust that eludes most of us. We want to believe, want to put our trust in God, want to adopt the words of St. Paul, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” We just often fall short.
We grow weak-kneed at the first sign of failure, opposition or obstacle. We pray, but lack confidence in prayer’s usefulness. We want to be loving to others, but find ourselves criticizing them at the drop of a hat.
This may be the wrong liturgical season for a quote from the gospel of John whose context is the period after Jesus’ resurrection, but I’ve been thinking a lot about it lately. In two surprise meetings with his disciples, Jesus’ first words are, “Peace be with you!”
Disillusioned
According to the gospels, Jesus’ followers after his death were confused, guilt-ridden, scared and even disillusioned. They had abandoned him, after all. And even during his years as their leader, they weren’t exactly the model of faithful followers.
They doubted him, misunderstood his teaching, bickered among themselves for position. On the whole, they showed little faith or trust. They were like us, and like us, they needed peace, the fruit of trust. And that’s what Jesus provided.
Trust is hard. In the face of anxiety about our lives, and that of family and friends, and all that is happening in the broader world, it takes all the faith we can muster. But isn’t it a matter of accepting our position as human beings, and God’s position as God? A matter of accepting uncertainty and relying on patience and love?
The person who “dwells in the shelter of the Almighty,” says the psalmist, “says to the Lord: “My refuge, my stronghold, my God in whom I trust!”
So what do you get from investing in such trust? The psalmist continues,
“Since he clings to me in love, I will free him;
Protect him for he knows my name.
When he calls I shall answer: ‘I am with you.’
I will save him in distress and give him glory.”
