A curse on the man who puts his trust in man, who relies on things of flesh, whose heart turns from the lord.

Jeremiah 17:5

Not many people would argue against trust as a central value in any human relationship. If spouses do not trust each other, it will be difficult for them to live together. If friends have no trust in each other, their bond will be seriously strained. If students abandon their trust in the competence of the teachers, their learning will be in jeopardy. When government leaders cannot be trusted, many things become problematic in the polity of a nation. If preachers of the gospel are perceived to be undeserving of trust, the message that they proclaim will suffer rejection from those who listen. Jeremiah would have known all of this.

The prophet contrasts trust in man and trust in God, and sounds very pessimistic about the former. He makes the emphasis on the need to rely on God alone, at all times and in all circumstances, since the person who trusts in the lord is blessed. Thus, to be blessed by God becomes very important in our friendship with Him. This friendship is uninteresting or cannot thrive when we rely on a human being; spiritual growth is possible only when we trust in God.

The passage ends with a connection between the human heart and deeds. It is the Lord alone who knows every heart and rewards every deed. The value of trust comes from the heart; sordid deeds come from the heart too. For example, extending a hand of genuine friendship and the refusal to be kind in words and deeds all proceed from the same heart. Therefore, it not good enough to imagine how society could be without letting our deeds be in tune with our thoughts. We can begin by placing our trust in the power of God, a power which transforms and enlightens every human heart.

A reflection written by Anthony Zabbey O.S.A., Priest of St Augustine's Hammersmith, London

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