Overall Takeaway

We must have a firm, stable, constant and unshaken confidence in God. According to St. Thomas, “Confidence is a hope fortified by solid conviction.”

 Key Verses from Sunday Mass Readings

“Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices,

my body, too, abides in confidence;

because you will not abandon my soul to the netherworld,

nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption.”

“Jesus himself drew near and walked with them,

but their eyes were prevented from recognizing him.”

“With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him,

but he vanished from their sight.

Then they said to each other,

‘Were not our hearts burning within us

while he spoke to us on the way and opened the Scriptures to us?’”

“Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices,

my body, too, abides in confidence;

because you will not abandon my soul to the netherworld,

nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption.”

Where Catholicism Meets Psychology

When we are children, we tend to see our parents as god-like figures. We are totally dependent on them, and we are born with a complete trust in them. As we grow up, we are disappointed in the fallen nature of those around us.

How our natural idealization of our parents ends plays a big role in how we come to see God. For example, if we are abused, neglected or traumatized as children, it’s easy for that god-like image to be shattered, and it’s understandable that we develop a lack of confidence in God.

We naturally begin to idealize other people such as teachers, romantic partners, or celebrities, seeking something that only God can provide. If all these idealized people disappoint us, we develop an unconscious belief that God will also let us down.

These human wounds blind us to God, just as the disciplines were blinded to Jesus on the road to Emmaus. But just like Jesus “opened their eyes,” He can open our hearts to Him, giving us the grace to experience this unshakable confidence, if we allow Him.

In order to develop a firm confidence in Christ, we must integrate our mind, heart, soul and body into one. This requires an experienced relationship with God to develop that complete trust and overcome a human fear of abandonment.

Action Plan for the Week

Participate in this week’s experiential exercise, which is led by Dr. Peter at the end of the episode, to help you begin this human integration and grow your confidence in God.