May the Risen Lord grant grace and peace in the Holy Spirit. It is on 09th May 2023.
We reflect on Acts 14:19-28 and John 14:27-31. We all grow by pain and gain in time. The sufferings we all grow through right now might be challenging. In reality, it opens up the rivers of hope, peace and love towards all that we are anxious and afraid of. Facing it all brings grace and deep resilience to share thoughts with others. Thoughts influence our emotions. Events of life impact our faith.
Paul and Barnabas faced tremendous opposition to preaching the Word. The things we love and do passionately for the community are not accepted and understood, we do not need to give in to deep depression.
Accepting and believing Christ demands a certain amount of inconvenience to undergo for the sake of the love and faith we have for Him. There is someone out there to outdo what we wish to do and plan to do. Newcomers are not accepted that easily in the Church, the community, and the society.
When people got used to a person, a theory, a vision, teaching, and preaching, they find it hard at times to look for something different. The input without reflection, implementation and sharing would remain inaction. We enrich by sharing the best we have in the mind and the best we have cherished so far stimulates the growth within and around. That is exactly what the Apostles Paul and Barnabas did it. “When they arrived, they called the church together and related all that God had done with them, and how he had opened a door of faith for the Gentiles.” (Acts. 14:28).
The responsorial Psalm praises, “Your friends tell the glory of your reign, O Lord.” (Ps. 145:10,11).
The Gospel describes that Jesus gives peace to all of us who work, suffer, and sacrifice for Him. During this global suffering, pain and loss, every human heart is longing for peace and blessing from the Divine. It is not too late to raise our hearts in unison with the entire cosmos to intercede, capture and mediate through our prayers to alleviate the sufferings of the world we love most.
Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.” (Jn.14:27).
The secret of happiness is embedded in peace that God alone can offer to hearts and humanity at large. Everything is going to be well soon. We are not born to lose ourselves to anything. We are born to win, visualize, and be optimistic with the guaranteed peace from God.
Let us not sink in the present pain and loss but rather swim across to create a new horizon of happiness, contentment and a culture of respect and love for all that we have experienced and been through so far. May God bless you to be a beacon of hope wherever we are. May God bless you.