3rd Sunday. TRUST

There is an old adage, a saying, echoed by philosophers known as the Rolling Stones, “we may not get what we want, but we may get what we need.”

All of us will experience moments of choice, or transition, of crises. We will face disillusionment, betrayal, heartbreak. We will see our well thought out plans dissolve, goals no longer obtainable. We will face health issues for ourselves, and our loved ones. In our day and age there is no shortage of crises, choices, struggles, challenges.

What seems to be lacking is a vision, a way beyond.

I've been there; I would guess most of as adults have. I also see our young persons struggling too. We get to a point and we SEE no way through, or we are locked into a way of life. We see what we think we want; but it is not what we may need.

And yet these moments can also be one of the most powerful moments, life-changing. We can move from death to life; from want to need. If we will only be open to a new way. If we will trust.

Jesus faces a crisis; John the baptist is arrested. A signal to Jesus and a foreshadowing of future hostility. So Jesus chooses to move to a different place. He continues his mission to reveal the Truth of the Father. He will adapt; he will Trust; he will grow his disciples.

We know he comes to another crisis moment; and he will wrestle with what he needs to do. He will Trust in the Father's love; he will Trust in the Father's will, he will choose to believe God will redeem the situation.

Again and again God restores, renews, transforms; resurrects with a small "R". The Old Testament is story after story of impossible situations that God resolves; when the people Trust.
Abraham and Sarah, the old ones, become parents and the founders of a people.
The Hebrew slaves are freed and walk over dry land. The freed slaves become a small nation that occupies a land. Later exiled, this destroyed nation is re-formed.

God lives, and God wills we live too.

Jesus reveals this, and calls us to this.

And it means we disciples will be called to risk to trust.  The original disciples left their nets, left their livelihood, they literally changed the direction of their lives.  We modern disciples have the same call from Jesus.  We will need to trust that we do not have control; we will need to trust that forgiveness will heal the anger. We will need to trust that we will find love. We will trust that God is with us, guiding us to new ways, new opportunities, to be children of God; to build up Heaven here on earth.

I have seen this happen; I have seen wonderful changes.

I have been privileged to have people share those God moments; when God offered to couples a way past the hurt so as to heal a relationship. When God offered to the brokenhearted a chance to find love again. When God gave to someone who felt little hope a different way to see life and hope.

It took effort, it takes effort on our part, to choose a new path to “repent” as Jesus preaches.  It takes effort to let go of one way of life that brings only chaos, to accept healing and a new life. 

It is not easy for us.

This is why Christ Remains with us, in Spirit, in Scripture, in community, and especially in sacrament. Shepherding us, inspiring us, and yes, sometimes pushing us forward.

We think of our Eucharist, given to us again and again. We believe in this Eucharist with faith and hope, that the bread and wine God transforms into the beloved Son.

Signifying too our own transformation, if we trust; open ourselves to God.

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