Trust in God always-Homily for Wednesday of the 18th week in ordinary time 9th August 2023

HOMILY FOR WEDNESDAY OF THE 18TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

Numbers 13:1-2,25-14:1,26-29,34-35; Ps.106; Matthew 15:21-28

Trust in God always

Life confronts us with different challenges and difficulties. We could choose to face them or run away from them. The liturgy of today encourages us to face life challenges and difficulties while trusting in God. As Christians, we do not face life problems with our strength but with the strength that comes from God. This accounts for the different testimonies of the men sent to spy out the land of Canaan in today’s first reading.

All the men had the same story to tell about the land of Canaan but differently interpreted their observation. They all saw that the land is strong, the cities are fortified, the Anak, the Amorites and the Canaanites dwell in the land. However, in their interpretation, all the men except Caleb said “we cannot go up against the people; for they are stronger than we”. But Caleb said “Let us go up at once, and occupy it; for we are well able to overcome it”.

The Lord was displeased with the other men and termed them “wicked congregation” because they have continuously refuse to learn to trust God in moment of difficulties. God does not work miracles amongst us for any other reason other than to build our trust in Him. The responsorial psalm tells us that when we fail to grasp the meaning of the wonders of the Lord, we commit sin.

In the gospel, Jesus is pleased with the faith of the Canaanite woman because even though, geographically, she was “outside the Lord’s chosen”, she trusted that she can overcome the demonic possession of her daughter with the strength of Jesus. Because she trusted, she was never discouraged by all the resistance she encountered.

Trusting means that we know him and his power; it means that we price the power of God over life’s problems. Fear speaks the direct opposite, namely, that we price life’s problem over the power of God. How are you interpreting your present challenges?

Dear friends in Christ, the silence of God is not negligence as the disciples supposed in today’s gospel reading. The greatest sign of trust in God is persistence prayer. Those who trust in other things or persons do not care to pray or persevere in prayer. The more acquitted you are with God and His power, in prayer, the more you will find reasons to move on knowing that you are never alone. Our God saves.