Trust means moving beyond doubt

My friends in Christ, with our human reason we can understand that there must be an all-powerful Creator. Sometimes we doubt this, but then we think: since all physical creation has a beginning and an end – even the stars like our sun are contingent beings – then there must be a Necessary Being, an All-Powerful Creator who has no beginning and no end who holds all creation in existence.

We can observe that a small oak tree must come from an adult oak tree that has a higher power to produce acorns. We know that a car comes from a higher being – a human being who has the power to create things. We reason that since physical things cannot come into existence on their own, but must have a higher cause to produce them, then there must be the Highest Cause, God the All-Powerful Creator who holds all things in existence by his love and truth.

We also know from intelligent observation the law of stability within nature. For example, ice melts at 33-degrees Fahrenheit. Can you imagine if suddenly steel began to melt at that temperature? There would be chaos. But thank God, steel and all creation has a stable nature given by God. With our reason we can discover these physical laws, and we can also discover God’s moral laws given to we creatures who possess the power of reason.

For example, if we did not understand the stable nature of things, like the laws of gravity and aero dynamics, we would not be able to fly airplanes. And if we did not have civil laws that reflect that moral laws of God, like the law that prohibits people flying a plane or driving a car under the influence of alcohol or illicit drugs, then we would have many avoidable tragedies. I do not think that anyone doubts what I have writ-ten. What some people doubt is that God is an infinite Mystery of Life, Love and Wisdom. They doubt that God is an Eternal Trinity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit who wants a personal relationship with them through Jesus Christ.

Jesus wants us to move beyond this doubt with trust. We can ask questions, but then humbly accept the answers that God gives us through his Catholic Church.

Sometimes I have doubted a teaching of Jesus’ Catholic Church, but not in any serious manner, or obstinate manner, which would be a sin. I did not stop worshipping Jesus Christ until I had all the answers, but trusted in his power to guide me and his Church. Last Sunday’s Gospel reading touched on that truth: ―Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him…. I have told you this while I am with you. The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you… Do not let your hearts be troubled…‖ Jn 14:23-27. Jesus spoke these words at the Last Supper, when he established the Ordained Priesthood and the Holy Eucharist – which is the greatest sacrament because it is truly the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ. Like the early disciples we are called to trust in his words: ―All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptiz-ing them in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of

the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.‖ Mt 28:20 These holy apostles and faithful disciples did their best to teach what Jesus taught, as they watched Jesus ascend into heaven forty days after his resurrection. They kept the Church mov-ing forward while waiting for the Holy Spirit to come down upon them at Pentecost, fifty days after Jesus rose from the dead, to further enlighten them, and to guide them into all truth. We are called to imitate these early Christians, as we wait to celebrate Pentecost this coming Sunday.

Can you imagine if the holy apostles and faithful disciples had said, ―I am not going to teach what Jesus taught until I understand everything about it.‖ That would be a sign of mistrust of God. They would not be able to move forward and continue learning and making more Catholic Christian disciples.

That would be like us saying, ―I will not drive a car or fly in an airplane until I know everything about it.‖ Instead, we know the basic nature of a car and plane and we trust in the company that makes them. Over time, we can learn how to drive them and how they operate, which is a good thing, because sometimes we need to repair things.

On this Solemnity of the Ascension, Jesus Christ wants us to trust that he is truly God and the divine Head of his Catholic Church – the divine teacher and vehicle of our travel to heaven. He is the Personal Creator and Foundation of the Catholic Church. His glory is the goal of our existence, and his heavenly Father waits for us, trusting that through faith and reason we will respond with love as the holy apostles and faithful disciples did.

For Jesus himself, through the Church, tells us, ―I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.‖ Jn 14:6.

God bless all our graduates who will continue to be blessed by God as they seek him with faith and reason and allow Jesus Christ and his Church to guide them into a bright future filled with the heavenly treasures of faithful Christian discipleship.

Peace in the Crucified and Risen Lord, Fr. Thomas McCabe