Trust restores the wounded soul to God

y Mary Regina Morrell

"Show me how much you love me, Lord, and save me according to your promise. Then I can answer those who insult me because I trust in your word." Psalm 119:42

The homily for this past Sunday began with an issue that has been on everyone's mind in our parish - the recent break-in at our church - one of several during the past year.

Our pastor relayed all the pertinent information, when, where, the possible how and what was damaged, and then acknowledged how anxious the experience had made him and how he now enters the empty church with increasing reticence.

"I just can't understand how anyone could do this to God's house," he added.

Well, I thought, as old memories stirred up my own rising anxiety, this house of God is only bricks and mortar, but a human being is also a house of God, a temple of the Spirit, flesh and blood, heart and soul and we are not always so easily repaired. I felt the familiar lump rise in my throat, fighting back tears and remembering all too well the soul shattering experience of being molested.

Today I truly hurt for my pastor, and all those who may have had a similar encounter, because anyone who has experienced a robbery, break-in, vandalism or assault has experienced to some degree the life-altering experience of being violated, of having trust desecrated. It is an unfortunate truth that the most painful consequence of destroying a person's ability to trust, especially if that person is a child or youth, may be the serious damage done to that person's relationship with God.

Such a brutal violation of trust is akin to a rape of the soul and since the soul belongs to God alone there can be no doubt of the warning of Christ, "It would be better for anyone who leads astray one of these little ones who believe in me to be drowned by a millstone around his neck, in the depths of the sea."

Trust, and the belief that we are safe, forms the basis for all relationships; the basis of love. So when a person's experiences lead them to believe that they are not safe even with the God who is supposed to love them then they have been robbed of faith and hope as well. During the journey of my life, the one constant, unshakeable source of love and assurance has been God -- loved ones die, friends move on, the human heart falters -- so I have always wondered how those who are so wounded by life can recover without an awareness of God's love. But my heart aches even more for those who suffer with a belief that God is responsible for their pain. The stories they share with me, their profound experience of being alone, reminds me of the most valuable lesson my father sought to teach me - that of balance in all things - even trust.

As author Frank Crane wrote, "You may be deceived if you trust too much, but you will live in torment if you don't trust enough."

It is easy to become bitter when trust has been violated. Some wounds seem destined to remain eternally open. That is why a constant turning to God in prayer is vital for healing. And for those who remain too broken and wounded to pray for themselves, they must rely on their brothers and sisters in Christ to pray in their stead.

Restore someone's ability to trust. God will bless you for it.

______________________________

Mary Regina Morrell is the author of Angels in High Top Sneakers from Loyola Press as well three reflection journals available through the Metuchen Office of Religious Education.

Contact

Diocese of Metuchen
http://www.diometuchen.org NJ, US
Mary Regina Morrell - Associate Director of Religious Education, 732 562-1990

Email

mmorrell@diometuchen.org

Keywords

trust, God

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