Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Easter,
Year A. May 16, 2017.
1st Reading: Acts of the Apostles 14:19-28.
In those days, some Jews from Antioch and Iconium arrived and won over the crowds. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. But when the disciples gathered around him, he got up and entered the city. On the following day he left with Barnabas for Derbe. After they had proclaimed the good news to that city and made a considerable number of disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch. They strengthened the spirits of the disciples and exhorted them to persevere in the faith, saying, “It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.” They appointed presbyters for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, commended them to the Lord in whom they had put their faith. Then they traveled through Pisidia and reached Pamphylia. After proclaiming the word at Perga they went down to Attalia. From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work they had now accomplished. And when they arrived, they called the church together and reported what God had done with them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. Then they spent no little time with the disciples. The word of the Lord.
Respo Psalm: 145(144):10-11.12-13ab.21
R/. Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
Gospel: John 14:27-31a.
Jesus said to his disciples: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid. You heard me tell you, ‘I am going away and I will come back to you.’ If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father; for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe. I will no longer speak much with you, for the ruler of the world is coming. He has no power over me, but the world must know that I love the Father and that I do just as the Father has commanded me.” The gospel of the Lord.
TUESDAY REFLECTIONS:
Interestingly, it’s actually more than advice. It’s a command of love from our Lord. He wants to be clear and wants us to know that a fearful and troubled heart is not of Him. To be troubled and fearful is a great burden and weighs us down. Jesus desperately wants us to be free of these burdens. He wants us to be free so that we can experience the joy of life. So what is it that burdens us in life the most? Is there something in our lives that we obsess about, are angry about, can’t let go of or that tends to dominate our lives? Or perhaps our burden is more subtle. These burdens can be quite difficult when they last from year to year.
The first step to freedom is to see the burden for what it is. Identify it and seek to identify the underlying cause. If the cause of our burden is our own sin, repent of it and seek Confession. This is the best way to experience immediate freedom. If, however, our burden is the result of another’s actions or some situation in life that is out of our control, then we are in a unique position to surrender to our Lord. Freedom is found in total surrender, trust and abandonment to His will. Spend some time today reflecting upon that which burdens us the most in life. What is it that weighs heavily upon us? It is this, more than anything else, that Jesus wants to enter into and lift for us. He wants us free so that we can experience the joy that He has to offer us in life.
Pray with me: Lord, I want to be free. I want to experience the joy You have in store for me. When the burdens of life weigh me down, help me to turn to You in my need. Jesus, I trust in You that You alone will heal our sick brethren and set them free. May the souls of our faithful departed brethren rest in perfect peace, amen.