I remember as my children were growing up how we used to go swimming together. When they were very small they would stand on the side of the pool, or perhaps on the diving board. Then they would leap into my arms, trusting that I would catch them. Their trust was so great that they would run back and jump again, oblivious to whether or not I was watching.
I'm sure we've all experienced similar instances of trust in our lives... running along side the bicycle while the young child tries to master balancing, trusting that we won't let go and they won't fall and get hurt. We trust doctors and nurses to correctly diagnose our health issues and provide the correct treatments.
But do we have a similar trust in God's goodness and mercy?
In the Gospel reading this weekend, Matthew tells of the birth of Jesus. Specifically we hear about how Mary was with child while betrothed to Joseph. Joseph, being a good Jew knew that the Law required that he divorce Mary publicly, bringing shame and possibly death to her. He chose, instead, to be merciful, and to divorce her quietly, in private, saving her reputation.
While he was in a deep sleep, an angel appeared in a dream telling Joseph to "not be afraid" to take Mary into his home. He told Joseph that she had conceived not through infidelity, but rather through the action of the Holy Spirit. Quite a concept to grasp! Yet Joseph, like Mary at the Annunciation, accepted the vision as God's will, placing all trust in Him.
Mary and Joseph are shining examples of trusting God, and being obedient to His will.
How do we act when confronted with adversity or situations that challenge our Christian faith? We are under attack from all sides by secular interest groups that would limit our right to live our faith. Do we stand up for our beliefs, or do we remain silent, or worse yet, participate in things that we know are not morally right or proper?
With Christmas only days away, it is important to remember that Jesus Christ IS the reason for the season. If there had been no Christ, there would be no Christmas. There would be no hope of eternal salvation. When the trials and tribulations that are life experiences become too great, we can, in good faith, leap into our spiritual pool, knowing that God the Father will catch us. Praise and thanks be to God Almighty for the wondrous gift of His son!
