Listen to God and set out in Trust

It is interesting to notice how often we read in scripture that God asks someone to leave everything to undertake a journey, whether a physical journey or a change of lifestyle. When Jesus called his disciples he was asking them to do both these things. 

Two saints we celebrated recently, St. Patrick and St. Joseph both needed great courage to obey the call of God. St Patrick having escaped from captivity in Ireland, certainly had no intention of returning; but in a dream he heard the call to come back and preach the faith to the Irish people, and because he trusted in God he obeyed.

St. Joseph showed extraordinary trust in God in his willingness to leave everything to follow the way God revealed to him.  First of all he accepted responsibility for Mary and her child. Then, in obedience to that same communication from God in a dream, he was the one to give Jesus his name, and by doing so he acknowledged publicly that he accepted him as his child and became his legal father.

Then when he received another revelation, again in a dream, Joseph set out straight away for Egypt bringing Mary and Jesus, to protect the child from Herold’s intention to kill him.  How many of us would be willing to set off at a moment’s notice? We would certainly have to be very convinced that it was truly necessary.

The Ukrainian refugees are an example in our time of people making a decision to leave a homeland for the greater good of their families; many African people have taken the same road in the face of famine and of persecution. In the mid nineteenth century, during our own time of famine, many Irish families left for America in the hope of a better life.

When God called Moses to liberate the Israelites from slavery he had no idea what this would involve. He was not at all enthusiastic about asking Pharaoh to let the people of Israel go, but the call from God was irresistible.  Even though the people were rebellious as they made their journey through the wilderness Moses interceded with God for them and persevered on the journey.

When God called Abraham he asked him to leave his country, his relatives and his own family home.  Everything familiar had to be left behind. He followed that call even though he didn’t know where he was going.  A lot of trust is needed to follow without knowing where the journey will take you, many people are too apprehensive to begin the journey and those who do begin may have to put up with scepticism, even from those closest to them.  Yet those who put their trust in God will always be willing to let go of the past and set out on a journey of new beginnings. Abraham’s trust did not fail and God fulfilled his promise to make him father of a great nation, and more. Today Abraham is considered father of Jews, Christians and Muslims and is revered by them all.

Many years ago a friend of mine, was told he must vacate his rented office in central London. He had sold his own business but was using the office as the headquarters of a small religious charity, helping the homeless poor. He pleaded with the landlord to let him stay and was given two more weeks, but was told to get out by the following Saturday because the bulldozers would be moving in on the Monday to demolish half the street for a new development. He put his trust in God and prayed for guidance. He was convinced that some place would turn up so he ordered a removal van for early on Saturday morning.  When asked ‘Where are we going?’ he had to admit he didn’t know, ‘but God knows,’ he said ‘and I will know by Saturday’.  On the Friday evening he received a phone call from a priest who had heard of his plight from a mutual friend and offered his vestry and a room in the bell tower of his church.

It seems that it is trust that allows God to work, not only in times of crisis but even in the most ordinary events of life.

Images: Wikimedia Commons:

The Flight into Egypt. Frecso in Lower Basilica in Assisi

He Sent them out Two by Two. James Tissot. Brooklyn Museum.