Brothers and sisters in Christ, peace be with you. Our readings today invite us to consider something profoundly counter-cultural: a strategic faith. That may sound like a contradiction—faith, after all, seems to speak of trust beyond strategy, of hope beyond plans. But the truth is, faith is not random or passive. It’s intentional. It’s lived out with clarity and discipline, grounded in the conviction that God is not only real but trustworthy.
The Second Reading from the Letter to the Hebrews defines faith as “the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen.” It’s a powerful line, but it becomes even more vivid when we look at Abraham. Abraham had no roadmap. No GPS. He left everything familiar, not knowing where he was going—only who was calling him. His journey wasn’t impulsive. It was a strategy rooted in trust: trust in the one who made the promise.
So how can we begin to build this same kind of strategic trust in God’s providence?
First, we must remember the faithfulness of the past. In our first reading from Wisdom, we hear about the Israelites on the night of the Passover—“with sure knowledge of the oaths in which they put their faith, they had courage.” Why? Because they remembered what God had promised. They recalled His faithfulness in the past.
If we want to trust God more, we must become people who remember. We strategize for trust by recalling the specific ways God has been faithful in our lives: the prayers answered, the strength given in hardship, the quiet comfort in suffering. If we don’t keep a memory of grace, fear will rewrite our history.
Next, we need to reorder our treasures. In the Gospel, Jesus tells us, “Provide money bags for yourselves that do not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven.” And then comes the heart of the message: “For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.”
Trust in God’s providence grows when we let go of the illusion of control. Jesus doesn’t say, “Don’t save” or “Don’t be wise with resources.” But He says: don’t place your security in them. The ultimate strategy for trust is detachment from false treasures. If our heart is anchored in what is passing—wealth, reputation, control—we will be terrified when any of it shakes.
Ask yourself today: what is my treasure? Where do I feel most secure? Strategizing for trust may mean simplifying your life, giving more away, and living generously to remind your soul that God—not stuff—is your provider.
Then we are called to live vigilantly with expectation. Jesus tells us to “gird your loins and light your lamps.” That is, be ready. Be watchful. Be faithful in the little things. A strategic life of trust doesn’t sit back waiting for a lightning bolt—it leans forward in expectation.
Look at the faithful servant. He wasn’t simply waiting—he was working, doing what the Master had entrusted him to do. The strategy here is simple: faithfulness in daily duty builds spiritual muscle for trust.
Do you want to be a person who trusts God when big trials come? Then start today. Be faithful in prayer. Be faithful in your vocation—whether that’s parenting, teaching, serving, or leading. Do what God asks of you now, even when it’s hidden, even when it seems small. This is how you build spiritual vigilance.
And finally, we must accept our role, not God’s. One of the greatest enemies of trust is the temptation to switch roles with God. We want to know the details, the timeline, the outcome. But as we heard, “You do not know on what day your Lord will come.”
Jesus says, “Do not be afraid any longer, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.” That’s a promise. That’s our security.
Let us respond with faith—not blind faith, but strategic, courageous, hope-filled trust in the One who holds all things in His hands.
Amen.
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