In life there are always at least two choices: the choice to act or not to act; to do evil or to do good. And for every action or inaction, there are always at least two consequences: good or bad; a blessing or a curse. Today, the first reading and gospel reading call to our minds the reality of the choice we have; to either trust in God or not. More to indicating the reality of this choice is that the readings also point out the corresponding consequences of either trusting or not trusting God.
The second reading however gives an understanding of the most important reward or consequence of trusting in God. There is no argument about the result of trusting or not trusting God from the first reading of today because it is clearly stating what God himself said. The prophet Jeremiah proclaimed “thus says the Lord: cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his arm…he shall not see any good come.” Not trusting in God means man has made something else his god in whom he has placed his trust. That is a form of idolatry, having faith in something else other than God.
his goes against the first commandment in Exodus 20:2-5. The clear result of this is a curse, which is lack of prosperity – fruitlessness and wretchedness. But on the flipside is the one who trusts in God. Such a man is blessed to prosper and be fruitful; “he is like a tree planted by the water…that does not fear when heat comes.” In these two instances, one difference between the one who trusts and the one who does not trust in God is that, the one who trusts in God trusts in something eternal and unfading but the one who trusts in material things has only placed his trust in something that will eventually pass away. And when it does pass away, he comes to no good, he becomes wretched.
Just like the tree planted by the waterside does not fear heat, because it will always have a constant supply of water; same way the one who trusts in God does not fear in evil days because God has power over every creature and situation, and he is an everlasting God, which means such a man will have an everlasting supply of divine help. This notion of blessings and curses for those who trust and do not trust in God respectively is further expressed in the gospel reading but not as explicitly as the first reading. Jesus gives us what is known as the beatitudes, which according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (§2546), are the revelation of “an order of happiness and grace, of beauty and peace.” In the beatitudes Christ blesses those who are poor, hungry, weeping, and hated.
Then he went on to proclaim woe on those who are rich, satisfied, laughing, and well spoken of. To ask why these blessings on the first and woe on the second classes of people by Christ will not be out of place because it would seem as though Christ is condemning a particular class and glorifying another. To answer the question, there is need to understand what the social situation was at the time the beatitudes were given. Then, the first category of people were those marginalized and mistreated by those in the second category. So Christ was not particularly vilifying any class; rather, he was actually speaking against an oppressive social system and calling for social reform. More to this is that Christ was reechoing what Jeremiah said in the first reading.
The poor, hungry, weeping and hated refer to those who have nothing and no one but God; so they put their trust in God with the hope of deliverance from their impoverished situation. While the rich, satisfied, laughing, and well spoken of refer to those who put their trust in their wealth or the praises of man. He was practically reminding them of prophet Jeremiah’s prophecy that those who trust in God will be saved, and those who do not will be destroyed. So when he said blessed are the poor, the hungry, the weeping, and the hated, he is saying in essence, blessed are those who have God as their all in all for they will receive their eternal reward since they have trusted in him who is eternal. Conversely, when he said woe to the rich, the satisfied, the laughing, and the well spoken of, he is saying in essence, woe to those who put their trust in material things for like every matter, they will wither and fade away since they have trusted in that which perishes.
When Christ promises anything, he promises the eternal and perfect version of that which he promises. So the blessings promised to those who trust in God is an eternal heavenly reward; not necessarily an earthly one. This true because true happiness, true satisfaction can only be found in heaven when we attain the beatific vision. That is why St. Augustine will say, our hearts are restless until they rest in the Lord. The assurance of the promises of Christ to such people is what his resurrection establishes for us. St. Paul said, “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile…those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished…but in fact Christ has risen from the dead.” Christ’s resurrection is therefore what gives us that certainty that trusting in him will win for us that blessedness which he has promised. If he did not resurrect, our trust will have been in vain.
But he is indeed risen; and those who believe in him will not perish but have everlasting life – the eternal blessedness of those who put their trust in God. Trusting in God, according to CCC 2547, is therefore the “preparation for the blessedness of the poor. They will see God.” Thus, the most important reward for trusting God is that we will be raised like Christ to be with him in heaven where our joy and satisfaction will be complete. And for those who choose to put their trust in worldly things, they have only signed themselves up for doom. We must however take care not to think that those who are poor are bound to make heaven while those who are rich will be doomed.
That is not what Christ is saying. The clarification of Christ’s blessing and woe is in the first reading. You can be poor and still go to hell if you make money and material possessions your god. Also those who are rich can also make heaven in so far as they use their wealth to glorify God and help the poor. Trust in God is what will determine our eternal reward. So, dear people of God, the message for us is very clear and simple. If we want to experience true blessedness, we must entrust ourselves to the Lord and make him our all in all. Our world today greatly worships material wealth to the detriment of gathering spiritual treasures.
A lot of people trust in the power of money over the power of God. Money and other earthly possessions have become the gods of people’s lives; and the sad thing is that this idolatry towards worldly possessions blinds people from seeing the danger ahead – the woe of those who trust in their wealth. In such a world that deifies material wealth, in which The quest to make money and gather other material possessions are now the greatest motivations for people’s action because they trust in these things rather than in God, segregation, marginalisation, crime, ill-treatment, dehumanisation, and all other societal ills are never wanting. The evidence is made lucid by just scrolling through the news about the happenings in the world. Even normal human relationships are now determined by one’s purchasing power because that is what many people idolise as what guarantees love. In such a world as ours, many will be those who will receive woes for their actions rather than a blessing.
Therefore, the call today is that we turn our trust to the Creator rather than the creature; to God rather than to material things. Money can only buy things that cannot last. But if we seek an eternity of richness, we must trust in the power of God. Let the love of God and his will be what motivates us to act. Every other thing is but ephemeral when compared to the blessedness that awaits those who trust in the Lord; and this should be kept always in mind. Not only will be world be a better place for it, we who hold God as our all in all will be in a place of refreshment, light and peace when we leave this world.
To those who are wealthy, serve God and humanity with your wealth; and to those who do not have trust God to provide your needs while you put in your own human effort. But in all things, never lose trust in God and make the love of him and doing his will be what moves you to do anything, no matter the situation. May God, through the Holy Spirit, help us by his grace to trust him in all things that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
• Rev. Fr. Thomas Aliegwu, Associate Parish Priest, Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, Shibiri, Lagos.
