Day Four: Saint Charbel, unfaltering trust in God
When he was asked for a prayer, he responded quietly, "may the prayer of the Saints be with you," " seek refuge in God, and he will take care of your matters." Then he went his way. To the visitors who sought his blessing, he blessed them without looking at them, saying, "according to your faith be it unto you."
"He demonstrated a firm trust in God. Therefore, when the parents of a sick person came to beg, asking him to pray for their healing, he might reply: " your sick is in good health, pray for him/her." Or he would say: "Implore, pray for him/her" while praying with the parents and encouraging them to trust God. And sometimes, he would comfort the parents, advising them to be patient and surrender to the Holy Will of God. He always knew what to say, as if God used him as a messenger of His will.
He was equally accurate in the performance of his daily tasks, his obedience to the rules, and his practice of an exceptional asceticism. He didn't rejoice upon the nomination of one of the monks to a new post, nor did he weep for the death of one of his peers. He didn't care much about the impoverishment or wealth of his parents. Was he an utterly insensitive man? Far from it: keeping his inner unity under all circumstances, joy, sadness, tribulation, comfort - is a beautiful display of hopefulness and absolute trust in God's plan. Why should he worry, when God is in control?
St. Charbel, teach us to abandon ourselves with total confidence in God's Providence, just as you did. In Jesus' name, Amen.
Thank you! 41 people prayed
Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer everyone. Col 4:6