COLLECT: “SET ASIDE, O LORD, THE BOND OF SENTENCE WRITTEN FOR US BY THE LAW OF SIN, WHICH IN THE PASCHAL MYSTERY YOU CANCELED THROUGH THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST YOUR SON. WHO LIVES AND REIGNS WITH YOU IN THE UNITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, GOD, FOREVER AND EVER. AMEN”.
Acts 6:1-7; Ps 32:1-2,4-5,18-19 and Jn 6:16-21.
The portion from Acts of the Apostles we reflect on, contains a dispute that arose in the community of the early Christians. Greek members complained against the Hebrews as they felt that their widows were being treated less fairly than Hebrew widows. The matter was amicably resolved when the apostles engaged the Church to select men filled with the Spirit and wisdom to serve as deacons. The portion from the Gospel of John is about the stormy sea in Capernaum that challenged the faith of the apostles. Jesus appeared to them walking on the water and calmed down their fears.
This earthly life is a journey. It is like we are journeying from this life (world) across to the other life (heaven). This world is our sea and we are in our boat journeying across toward our ultimate and final destination. Just like the apostles whose faith was being challenged by the strong wind that was blowing and put a lot of fear into them, our faith can equally be challenged by other ‘strong winds’ as we journey across the other side of life.
Disputes in our families, workplaces and within our communities/societies are strong winds that can challenge our faith and eventually disturb the unity and peace between or among us. This happened to the early Christians and the apostles. The early Christians however showed us a way to resolve such disputes among us when they do arise.
Fear is one of our biggest challenges in life. Fear of death, fear of sickness, fear of failure, fear of being punished, fear of suffering, pain and persecution, etc. challenge us and sometimes we are rendered faithless or when this happens our faith is faint and weak. This is the time some of us think that other things or fellow human beings can take away this fear and protect us. No and never.
The Lord has power and he can control and calm down whatever storms or strong winds that challenge us in life on our way across to the other side of our sea of life. He did it for the fearful or frightful apostles and he will do it for us if we always come to him as well as call upon him to save us. When we are challenged in this life, we should be assured that the Lord is walking with us, he is always near us and in such moments, he gently tells us that he is there, ‘Do not be afraid’.
Take courage and be assured that the Lord has power and he can control and calm down whatever storms or strong winds that challenge us in life on our way across to the other side of our sea of life. He did it for the fearful or frightful apostles and he will do it for us if we always come to him as well as call upon him to save us. When we are challenged in this life, we should be assured that the Lord is walking with us, he is always near us and in such moments, he gently tells us that he is there, ‘Do not be afraid’. May the Lord take control of all our worries, challenges and frustrations that we are going through. May he calm our troubled minds and hearts for us and may he always lift us whenever we are being tormented and hit down by any strong wind in this world. Stay blessed and have a fruitful Saturday.
WE MEDITATE TODAY, SATURDAY, ON THE JOYFUL MYSTERIES: ‘THE ANNUNCIATION, THE VISITATION, THE BIRTH OF JESUS, THE PRESENTATION IN THE TEMPLE AND THE FINDING OF THE CHILD JESUS IN THE TEMPLE’. (LET US PRAY FOR HUMILITY, LOVE OF NEIGHBOUR, POVERTY IN SPIRIT, OBEDIENCE AND JOY IN FINDING JESUS) “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus: Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us, sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen”.
PRAYER: “WE HAVE PARTAKEN OF THE GIFTS OF THIS SACRED MYSTERY, HUMBLY IMPLORING, O LORD, THAT WHAT YOUR SON COMMANDED US TO DO IN MEMORY OF HIM MAY BRING US GROWTH IN CHARITY. THROUGH CHRIST OUR LORD. AMEN”.
Rev. Fr. Aloysius Kpiebaya, Catholic Diocese of Wa, UW/R, Ghana. (00233) 0207867239/0545462863. Email: aloybaya20@yahoo.com
No comments yet. Be the first to comment!