Homily

I remember one week a few years ago, when I was administrator of the eparchy, that brought nothing but problems, one after another. I learned that one of our priests was going to do something that would have created a lot of trouble in his parish. I spent 45 minutes on the phone with him, trying to help him see what a bad move this would be for his people. Finally, he agreed with me and said he would not do it. I was so relieved. Two days later I learned that he went ahead and did it anyway. I was so mad. And so were most of his parishioners. Ugghhh.

That same week I had hired the young adult son of one of our priests to do a job for the Eparchy thinking it was a good deed since he was looking for work. I told him that there was a deadline. The work had to be done by Wednesday. He said he would definitely get it done by Wednesday or Thursday. Friday came and nothing had happened. I texted him and said we would have to get somebody else because we couldn’t wait any longer. I get a long abusive text message back, calling me all kinds of names. I text him back, saying he knew that time was an issue here and he agreed to a deadline. Big mistake. More abuse comes back to me. Then he calls and leaves a phone message accusing me of being a terrible person and a horrible priest. All this because I was trying to help him out by giving him this job. He failed, and I am the bad guy. These were only two of the bad events that happened that week, as almost every day brought some big problem. And I was thinking of them all as I was mopping the floor to prepare for the sad funeral of a beloved, long-time parishioner. But it gave me a chance to think.

So, what should I do in response to people who act like this? I had several responses available to me. The easiest response and the one that suggests it will provide the most satisfaction is to react in anger. You know—lash out, strike back, make them pay for what they have done and the hurt they caused. That’s the easy temptation to follow, isn’t it? Another temptation is to do the exact opposite. Pull back, disengage, put distance between you and them, “Don’t talk to me” or even the “I’ve had enough, I quit, I’m out of here, goodbye.” Counterattack in anger or withdraw as much as possible. These are the two easy solutions that present themselves to you when you are angry or frustrated with other people.

I remember very clearly how the bad actions of some people that week had badly stirred me up inside. I’m thinking about what to do with these situations, as these two temptations take turns trying to engage me in action to either attack back or pull out. And then, by grace, the words of the psalm come into my head, “Only in God is my soul at rest.” Didn’t remember what psalm that was, so I looked it up. (Psalm 62) It also says “God alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not fall. My deliverance and honor are with God my strong rock; my refuge is with God. Trust in God at all times my people! Pour out your hearts to God our refuge.” That was indeed the best answer to my anger and frustration.

To rest my soul in the Lord, to trust in God my refuge—suddenly it’s not all about me and them but it should be about me and Him. And that is the proper order. First me and Him, then me and them. When trouble comes, especially trouble that makes me angry, I should not pick what seems to be a quick and easy solution or look for answers that seem to give immediate satisfaction or peace, but instead to just stop and rest in the Lord and put my trust in Him. After that I can so much better see what is the best plan of action, and it will not be to foolishly attack back in a reckless way because it seems satisfying, and it will not be to pull back in a cowardly way because it is easier, and it seems satisfying. I may indeed have to give a strong response, or I may indeed have to step away from the situation and let it go, but these actions should come from a peaceful mind, not from an agitated spirit.

As I was reminded back then, so I want to remind you today, that we cannot truly rest unless we rest in the Lord. The world turns and spins with one disaster after another, one problem following after another. And our own lives too can fill up with troubles, and doubts, and challenges, and threats, with anger and frustration and sadness over situations and events much more serious than the ones I have described. We never would have expected war in Ukraine and yet look at that tragedy unfolding before our eyes. At each time, in each situation and every day let us rest only in the Lord, and let us trust only in Him. We’re tempted to fight back without thinking first. We’re tempted to run away to avoid the problem. We’re tempted to trust only in ourselves.

The psalmist says, “God alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not fall.” I need to continue to try and fix that truth ever more firmly into my life, despite the constant temptation to think and act differently. I ask you to think about this as well. Let your soul rest in the Lord. Put your trust in Him alone. Ask for His guidance, and then do the best that you can do.