May the Peace of Christ Reign in our Hearts
The beautiful words “ Do not let your heart be troubled” were meant to encourage the Apostles as they would witness Jesus being arrested tortured and hung on the cross but they were also meant for us.
Fear has always been a part of the human condition.
We are afraid of so many things.
Fear is so prevalent in our society that John Paul II felt it necessary to almost continually remind us not to be afraid.
The very first words he spoke to the world after his election as Pope were simply
“Do not be afraid.”
In the Gospel the Word reminds us that when fear comes upon us
It is important to have faith in God and Faith in Jesus.
we have faith in Jesus then we value what he valued and discard what he didn’t think was important.
Faith in Jesus liberates us from the cares of the world
Faith in Jesus frees from so many fears.
Believing in Jesus sets us free
by showing us what is really important in our lives and by showing us how to get home.
The Gospel also encourages us to have faith in God.
But many of us ask ourselves how can we trust God?
How can our belief in God give us peace and encouragement?
The real question should be how can we not trust God?
If God was willing to send us His only Son to pay the price of our sin and lead us home then doesn’t it follow that God will give us anything we could ever possibly need to come home to him?
Yes Fear is such a part of our world our entire world
The poor fear dying from hunger or sickness and they fear for the future of their children like anyone else.
The poor are often very afraid of the violence which is so sadly commonplace in the lives of refugees and those in desperate need even in our country.
The rich fear not having enough even when some have so much they could never spend what they have.
The powerful fear that someone will grow more powerful than them.
The influential fear that someone will become more popular and take their place.
Children fear they will be abandoned.
Teenagers fear they won’t fit in or that they are not handsome or beautiful enough.
Some are so afraid that they even stop eating. Eating disorders are a sad example of just how fearful our society has become.
Young adults fear they won’t find a husband or wife they can share their lives with.
College students fear they won’t find their place in the world
They are afraid they won’t find that special place in our world which is life giving to them and where they can make their contribution.
Young families fear not having enough to give to their children
People starting out in their careers fear that they won’t get that special break they need or that they will screw things up.
As the children get older Mothers and Fathers are so often afraid for them.
Will they be happy ?
Will they have friends ?
Will they do drugs?
Will they find someone to love?
Will we be able to protect them from the struggles of life?
In middle age many people ask themselves is that all there is?
Is this what life was about? They are afraid life pasted them by
In their fifties… people often wonder if they have gone as far as they can go in their careers.
They fear the young smart talented people who are following them..
They wonder if they still have what it takes to make their contribution.
In their sixties and seventies thoughtful people wonder if they have ever really made any difference with their lives.
They often ask, did I do anything at all of value?
As people grow older they fear getting older
They are afraid of aches and pains
They are afraid of sickness
They are afraid that they won’t have enough to retire on
They are so afraid of losing their independence
When people are near death many are afraid to meet God
We pray our whole life thy Kingdom Come but when it does we say not yet.
Yes fear is all around us.
If we let it ….fear can rule our lives.
GOD DOES NOT WANT US TO BE AFRAID
LET ME REPEAT THAT
GOD DOES NOT WANT US TO BE AFRAID
God DOES NOT WANT US TO LIVE IN FEAR.
The Gospel says “Do not let your heart be troubled”
If we allow Jesus to be the way the truth and the life
then we really need very few material possessions
We can even be surprised by how little we really need.
If we base our lives on God’s truth
Then we can look at other people as our brothers and sister and not merciless competitors
If we pattern our lives after Jesus
Then we don’t have to work 60 hour weeks so we can have the wrap around porch and the garage that could fit three third world families but rather we can play with our kids and never miss one of their games.
If we pattern our lives after Jesus
Then we don’t have to be the most powerful
Remember Jesus saved us by being weak
If we pattern our lives after Jesus
Then we don’t have to fear for our children because we can see that they are held in the loving hands of God
If we pattern our lives after Jesus
Then we don’t have to fear sickness or old age because even these experiences through which almost everyone must pass can make us better people more generous people.
Sometimes older couple grows apart until one of them gets sick and needs the other.
The salvation of many people and many marriages has been found in the challenge of sickness and the necessity of caring for your husband or wife who is ill.
Caring for someone or being cared for changes a person’s heart.
This week let’s meditate on these powerful words
Do not let your hearts be troubled have faith in God and faith in me
God meant what he says. Amen
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