Homily for March 2: Don't be consumed by posessions or worry - Trust in God

Last week I drove down to Vincennes, IN to meet with one my customers.   It was the day after the big snow melt so I was a little worried.  Flood watches were in force through out most of the entire drive.  I arrived in Vincennes without any trouble and even had some time for a side trip after my meeting.  I went to the Old Cathedral, the Basilica of St. Francis Xavier.  The Venerable Bishop Simon Brute’, the first bishop of the Diocese of Vincennes, whose cause for sainthood is underway, is buried there.  I often pray for his intercession for people who are ill and wanted to pray at his tomb.   Bishop Brute’ was responsible for requesting the help of nuns from France to come to Indiana to care for and educate the poor, one of whom is Indiana’s first saint, St. Mother Theodore Guerin. 

As I was preparing for the homily this week trust in God’s Providence was the theme that came to mind.   I knew a little about St. Mother Theodore, recalling a quote to “put yourself in God’s Providence”, so I decided to do a little research. One thing I found out was that my worry about the flooding was nothing compared to what St. Mother Theodore had to endure.   On her trip from France she there were many trials including hurricanes, floods, being thrown from a carriage, hunger, no guide to meet them upon her arrival, and being unable to understand or speak English. When the nuns finally arrived months later in Indiana the stagecoach driver dropped them off in the middle of a dark forest with nothing around.   St. Mother Theodore and the nuns surely had to trust in God’s Providence.

They eventually found their way to a small farmhouse and log cabin chapel and set up residence there.  They had to endure the blazing heat and mosquitoes of summer and the bitter cold and snow of the winter while ministering to care and educate the poor.   When money ran out they went hungry for days and appealed to a new bishop who refused to support them.  He suggested that St. Mother Theodore go back to France to appeal for more funds.   In order to endure the struggle during the cold winter months, St. Mother Theodore set up a chapel on the porch of the house and brought in the Blessed Sacrament for the nuns to pray and adore. She told them, “With Jesus, what will we fear”?

         In today’s Gospel we hear Jesus teaching his disciples about the dilemma of trying to serve two masters: God or mammon.  Mammon is a word that means wealth or

possessions, and also, “that in which one places trust”.    Jesus uses strong words saying they’ll either hate one or love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other.   Our wealth and possessions can become our masters and be so consuming that we exclude God.   But our wealth and possessions are things that are passing.   God is eternal and the ultimate source that provides everything we need. God needs to be our master, not our possessions.

The disciples were also told not to worry about what to eat, drink, or wear. These are basic needs that people were genuinely concerned about.  Most of them were poor and lived hand to mouth, just trying to survive another day. They didn’t know when or where their next meal would be. Of course they were going to be worried about such things. But Jesus tells them that worrying would not add a single moment to their lives. Worry can be all consuming and become our master as well.   Jesus tells them they need to “seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things would be given you besides. Don’t worry about tomorrow: tomorrow will take care of itself”.  He tells the to focus on the eternal and not the passing.  If they trust God, He will take care of them.  

         We spend a lot of time with the same concerns as the disciples worrying about what to eat, drink, or wear.   But our concerns are more about whether we going to eat at home, or eat out at a restaurant.  Now some of us definitely have more serious worries.   We may be concerned about finding a job, whether the food will last through payday, or whether the results of medical tests will indicate a serious illness.  These worries can be overwhelming if we focus on them alone.   But through all these struggles we need to keep up our relationship with God, because God never forgets us.  God’s love is enduring, surpassing even the tender loving care of a mother for her child as the prophet Isaiah told us in the first reading.  

         God provided for St. Mother Theodore Guerin’s needs. She went back to France and received enough money to continue her ministry back in Indiana.  When she returned the non-supportive bishop eventually resigned and the new bishop provided her the much need support for her ministry.  He gave the sisters housing and land so they could found a school. This eventually become St. Mary of the Woods College.  The sisters’ ministry in education grew to establish schools in 10 other cities throughout Indiana educating 1200 children.  The ministry of St. Mother Theodore and the Sisters of Providence were instrumental in the growth of Catholic schools throughout Indiana.  Today we’re still seeing the fruits of Saint Mother Theodore’s efforts through one of the newest Catholic high schools, Providence Cristo Rey.   This school is a private college prep high school in the inner city of downtown Indianapolis, but it’s only open to those who cannot pay to attend a private Catholic high school.  The fruit of St. Theodore’s efforts were due to her complete trust in God, which is summed up by this passage from a letter she wrote:

“You will not be offended, and you will allow me to say, and repeat, that you ought not to give way to uneasiness about the future. Put yourself gently into the hands of Providence. Trusting all your affairs to Him and putting them also under the protection of Mary and Joseph, you will see that all will be well.”

—Saint Mother Theodore Guerin

         As we enter the season of Lent it’s a good time to ask ourselves whether our relationship with God is first in our lives and that we trust in His Providence.  Maybe mammon or worry is getting all of our attention.  If so, it may be a good time to get a companion to help us on our Lenten journey by choosing one of saints.  Many of the saints had tremendous challenges and struggles in their lives, but they also put their trust in God who helped them to do great things.  The book on St. Mother Theodore Guerin’s journals and letters may be an excellent selection to read during Lent.   Or you may want to pick up The Little Way of Lent, with St. Therese’ of Lisieux.   I am going to be reading 15 days of prayer with St. Catherine of Siena.  Saints are great models for us as they have struggled with sin, personal trials, and persecutions, but overcame them and lived lives of Holiness by putting their complete trust in God.   I hope and pray your journey this Lent will be well spent in making a relationship with God first in your life.   May God bless you.