[StBernard] Gift of Trust

[Westley Annis]

Judges 13 and Luke 1:5-25 give us two holy families 
who had the same experience of receiving an unexpected child. 
Both stories are similar to what happened to a third family, THE Holy
Family. 
In each case, an angel announced the good news to the would-be parents. 
Sons were given to women who had never been pregnant before. 
The Spirit of the Lord came upon each boy and anointed them for special
ministries.

Because of the barrenness of Samson's and John's mothers, 
the parents had to make the decision to trust God and believe in the
promised miracle. 
Mary and Joseph had to trust God for the same reason. 
Let's look closer at how they trusted.

Samson's parents simply accepted what the angel said and proceeded from
there. 
Verse 8 is very telling: Manoah, the dad, upon hearing from his wife what
the angel had said, 
immediately turned to God and prayed, "Teach us how to raise this boy who
will be born."

Not only did he trust the good news without hesitation, 
but he moved quickly into seeking and trusting in the guidance that God
could provide. 

Zechariah, despite being a priest and knowing well the story of Samson's
birth, 
wanted proof that what the angel said was true. 
He asked, "How am I to know this?" 
For his lack of trust, he was made mute until the child was born, 
probably so he couldn't spread his doubts to others. 
(It would be great if God did that to my mouth when I have doubts!)

Mary asked a similar question of the angel, but with complete trust. 
She said, "How can this be, since I am still a virgin?" 
She did not demand proof. 
She was not asking to "know this." 
She simply accepted the angel's words that she would become pregnant. 
For her, it was only a question of how it would happen -- a healthy
curiosity, with no doubts. 

It's okay to ask "how?" when God gives us surprising news 
or when he calls us to a vocation or a task that doesn't make sense to us. 
Each one of us has a special mission -- in the workplace, in the parish, at
home, in the community. 
Let's not demand proof that God is really calling us to serve others there.

Today, prepare for Christmas by exchanging the gift of service with Jesus. 
What is God asking of you? 
Pray for an understanding of how to do what he's asking. 
Get past the fears and doubts by making a decision to trust. 
Trust is not based on feeling certain or secure. 
It's based on believing that God is God and therefore can do everything he
plans to accomplish.

 

Merry Christmas Everybody