Trust in God

Homily for Friday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time

Though the Letter to the Hebrews is one of the most densely packed letters theologically speaking, the author becomes very practical in the final chapter of this letter. He asks his readers to live with fraternal charity, with hospitality, with concern for those who are in distress, with purity, and with contentment.

The Church responds to this letter with Psalm 27, and expression of trust in God even in the most desperate situations. God is the psalmist’s light, salvation, and refuge. Therefore, the psalmist has only one desire, God’s presence. The psalmist’s whole delight is found in the Lord’s beauty; but even in the midst of this tranquility, the awareness of enemies is present. The enduring gift of God’s living among us is suggested by the ancient desert terms for the sanctuary – a booth or a tent. The psalm was probably written for the celebration of the Hebrew feast of Sukkoth during which the Jews would build themselves huts out of branches to remind themselves of God’s protection during their sojourn in the desert.

The psalm easily moves us into the Gospel passage in which we hear of the martyrdom of John the Baptist. John placed his trust in God and fearlessly proclaimed God’s word even though he knew that it would lead to his death.

Living the Christian life is impossible if we do not place our trust in God. Those who extend love to others, who are hospitable, who are concerned about others and are content with their situation in life are often the targets of those who live according to the values of our secular world. Though we are now living in the later stages of our human lives, we cannot become complacent about the universal call to holiness. Love of God and love of neighbor are demanded of people at all ages. It is all too easy to fall into the trap of expecting others to do things for us while we are unwilling to do things for other people. Fraternal charity and hospitality are two-way streets demanding that each of us live up to our commitment to God’s commandments. God has been rich in his gifts to us, gifts that were meant to be shared with all.