Who Do We Trust?

“He who trusts in himself is lost. He who trusts in God can do all things.” St. Alphonsus Liguori

Once, Father Luigi Giussani, the founder of Communion and Liberation worked in a high school. He stopped a dance that was happening and told the students that they will all go home unsatisfied, but he said he will not. Maybe the dance was not much fun. He was referring to the students looking for something more from this dance – some fulfillment. However, Giussani had his faith in Christ. The fear of missing out or fear of missing a better option, is a real phenomenon. Recently, there was a party, and when one person was asked to attend, the response was it depends what I have going on. It depended upon the best offer and where there was the better time to be had. This is how we work. Christ works differently – completely. We are looking for the best vacation, best party, best job or the best relationship. This is our measure of what would be the right choice for us. God’s measure is very different. We will know the right decision by its fruit.

“No one should follow what he considers to be good for himself, but rather what seems good for another. Let them put Christ before all else; and may He lead us all to everlasting life.”– St. Benedict

I cannot help but read about the saint of the day. I use books, websites, and the Magnificat or any app. Such intriguing stories and events shaped the life of the Church. One saint I had read about was St. Benedict Joseph Labre. He came from a large family in France, and he was treated badly for his desire to live a religious life, and he suffered greatly. No order would take him, so he took his baptismal certificate and lived a life of a wandering beggar. The world was his monastery. He received Holy Communion frequently and when he was found dead outside a church in Rome, his life was understood to be one of holiness. God works in His own way. We are here to get to heaven. The rest is up to God.

Who except God can give you peace? Has the world ever been able to satisfy the heart? -Saint Gerard Majella

How often do we want everything from life. We need to choose many things every day – what we eat, what we wear, where we work, and who we go out with. There are many decisions each day and even in every moment. This excludes other choices. Once, a friend was at a coffee shop and wanted a tea. The box of options came out and there must have been 200 kinds of tea. The response was that I just want tea. There is this illusion of choice, but those choices will not make us happy if we hold out for the best offer. What are we called to do? Where do we fit in in this life? Let us ask God every day to make the road ahead clear. Let us follow those who really love us, allowing them to be a witness and example for us to know what the road is for each one of us. Hopefully, this road ends in heaven, but there are many twists and turns along the way.

I am not capable of doing big things, but I want to do everything, even the smallest things, for the greater glory of God." Saint Dominic Savio