TRUST ALWAYS IN GOD'S LOVING AND MERCIFUL PROVIDENCE.

TRUST GOD AND HE WILL BE THERE FOR YOU ALWAYS. 

THE WORD OF GOD:

"Thus says the Lord: Cursed is the one who trusts in human beings, who seeks his strength in flesh, whose heart turns away from the Lord. 

He is like a barren bush in the desert that enjoys no change of season, but stands in a lava waste, a salt and empty earth.

Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose hope is the Lord.

He is like a tree planted beside the waters that stretches out its roots to the stream: it fears not the heat when it comes; its leaves stay green; in the year of drought it shows no distress, but still bears fruit." (Jeremiah 17: 5 - 8).

Sunday 16th February 2025, in the 6th Week in Ordinary Time.

The first Reading from Jeremiah 17: 5 - 8 provides the food for our reflection. 

 Jeremiah offers us curse or blessing as Moses did before him.

"See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse." (Moses, Deuteronomy 11: 16).

What are the things that make our hearts turn away from the Lord? In one word: IDOLATRY! Something we love more than we love God. They could be any or all of the following:

Money, Job, Health, Family, Possessions, Food, Worries. 

The Prophet Jeremiah continues:

"Blessed are those who trust in the Lord; the Lord will be their trust.

THIS MEANS THAT WHEN YOU TRUST GOD, HE WILL BE THERE FOR YOU ALWAYS. 

"They are like a tree planted beside the waters that stretches out its roots to the stream: It does not fear heat when it comes, its leaves stay green; In the year of drought it shows no distress, but still produces fruit." (Jeremiah 17: 7 - 8).

WHY DOES HE NOT FEAR 'HEAT' OR CHANGES IN FORTUNE? BECAUSE HE TRUSTS IN GOD'S POWERFUL AND UNCHANGING DIVINE PROVIDENCE. 

A tree planted beside running water can be compared to a soul

planted inside the Church Sanctuary. He is nourished continuously by the word of God and the Sacraments. 

All the gold, silver and diamond belong to God. He provides food to all living things. Our future, destiny and security lie in His mighty hands.

The Scriptures, the Magisterium, the Church Fathers, Doctors of the Church and all the Saints affirm that God's mighty, merciful and mysterious Providence governs all things with great love and tenderness. This Providence is "direct and concrete." (CCC 303). This means that you can experience God's loving care every step and every moment of your life. 

How foolish it is to place your trust in mortal man who cannot save himself. Nobody gives that which he has not says an old Roman proverb.

Where is your security?

The Bible warns us not to put our trust in human beings or in princes or in horses and chariots (tanks, fighter bombers, etc), or bank accounts and investments. (Cf Psalm 118: 8; 146: 3)

Here are daily actions that move our hearts to trust in the Lord and receive blessings and be blessing to others:

Prayer

Word of God

Eucharist 

Reconciliation 

Spiritual Reading

Sharing your faith

"Choose life, then, that you and your descendants may live, by loving the Lord, your God, obeying his voice, and holding fast to him. For that will mean life for you, a long life for you to live on the land which the Lord swore to your ancestors, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give to them." (Deuteronomy 30: 19 - 20). 

"It is here [In the Family] that the father of the family, the mother, children, and all members of the family exercise the priesthood of the baptized in a privileged way "by the reception of the sacraments, prayer and thanksgiving, the witness of a holy life, and self-denial and active charity." (CCC 1657). 

For Devotional prayer and prayer intentions to the Holy Family, click the link below:

http://seekfirst.blogspot.com/2024/01/the-holy-family-devotion.html