THE BEST IS YET TO COME

One of the dogs in our convent named Migo has little faith in everyone except its master. It is kind to me and approaches me every time I have treats for it. But without pandesal in my hands, it will not approach me no matter how I persuade it. Without the assurance of treats in sight, Migo doubts my intentions.

Doubt is the opposite of faith. We doubt something or someone when we cannot give our trust to it or when we lose our confidence in it. And sometimes, we even doubt something that seems to threaten the good things in our life. When we think that what we have is already the best in the world, we treasure it. When something new comes in our life that seems to be better, we tend to doubt it as it shakes the status quo. Worse, we deny it access to our life, even slander it so that we may keep the best thing we already have.

When Jesus did wondrous things; expelling demons, feeding the hungry, forgiving sins, curing the sick, some people doubted Him, even accused Him of being an agent of Beelzebul (Lk 11:14-23). They doubted Jesus because His presence threatens the status quo and shakes the foundation and ground on which they had been standing as self-righteous men. Jesus brought and offered better things to them; better than the one they already had. If only they had faith in Him, if only they listened to Him, they would have enjoined the fullness of life in Christ: free of doubt, filled with faith and joy.   

How shall we deal with doubts? The prophet Jeremiah counsels us as he relays God’s message to us: Listen to my voice; then I will be your God and you shall be my people. Walk in all the ways that I command you, so that you may prosper. (Jer 7:23-28). In times of doubt, would we dare to see where God is leading us? God was rejected by many. They obeyed Him not, nor did they pay him heed. They walked in the hardness of their evil hearts and turned their backs to Him. Will we do the same? If today we hear his voice, harden not our hearts. Doubt God no longer. Let go of the good things you have, and let His better plans take place in your life. 

We, even as religious and priests, experience doubts. There will really be seasons in our life as religious when the well runs dry, when one feels taken for granted, when one begins to ask if his efforts are in vain, when one battles with bouts of loneliness, when one doubts the future ahead of him. The words of Archbishop Soc Villegas, during our ordination to the Diaconate, were reassuring: “The Lord who called us will be the same Lord who will renew us, refresh us and reassure us. When the time comes when it seems you have run out of miracles in your life, when you feel tired, torn and bruised, when there is no more wonder in the face of mystery, when you feel like giving up, come over... We will grow old together serving the Lord." Trust Jesus. The best is yet to come.