psalm 146: only god can be trusted - 4th sunday

Psalm 146 as I have reflected this morning is a psalm which exhorts us to trust only God.  Man though powerful, wealthy and wise cannot be trusted.  Why?  Because man is transient.  He is here today, he is gone tomorrow.  Presidents come and go, priests formators come and go, parish priests come and go.  Only God can be trusted.  Why?  Because man is finite.  He can only do so much.  He makes a lot of mistakes.  He will always fall short of our expectations.  Only God can be trusted.  Why?  Man is limited in his knowledge, in his strength, and even in his virtues.  Only God can be trusted.

When we were young we also had idol priests.  We would look up to them.  We would emulate whatever they do.  In fact we measured what we do against their standards.  We judge the goodness of our own programs and those of others against their benchmarks.  They were sought after as retreat masters, as lecturers and even consultants.  Then the first one went out.  Then the second one went out.

It is always sad when the people who inspired you to become who you are make mistakes.  Part of who you are dies too.  A certain part of your vocation story gets erased too, as if it was some mistake to have been so keen and eager to get inspired, by a no longer inspiring outcome.

But happy the man who trust in the Lord.  Happy the man who trust in the Lord.  Set your eyes on Jesus.  Don't worry we will still take you out for batchoy and coffee and Uncle Toms once in a while when we get extra cash.  But always set your eyes on Jesus, he is the real priest, the real man, the real model and exemplar.  We will still do our best to give you good examples – probably in this area and in that area, but definitely not in all.  But we will do our best.  But you see even the runner stumbles.  So happy indeed is the people who trust in the Lord, only in the Lord.