Tag: peace

“Lord, save us! We are perishing!” | Tuesday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time

From the responsorial psalm: “At dawn I bring my plea expectantly before you. For you, O God, delight not in wickedness; no evil man remains with you; the arrogant may not stand in your sight. Lead me in your justice, Lord.”

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 8:23-27)

As Jesus got into a boat, his disciples followed him. Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by waves; but he was asleep. They came and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!” He said to them, “Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?” Then he got up, rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was great calm. The men were amazed and said, “What sort of man is this, whom even the winds and the sea obey?”

In the first reading, through the prophet Amos, the Lord says, “So now I will deal with you in my own way, O Israel! And since I will deal thus with you, prepare to meet your God, O Israel.” In the Gospel, we see the God who has mastery over the forces of nature in the boat with the disciples as a violent storm suddenly comes up. Terrified they will die at sea, they awaken Jesus, who lies asleep in the back of the boat. The cause of the disciples’ fear and the answer to their fear are one in the same: the Lord of sea and sky is with them. He quiets the sea and stills their trembling. As he questions their faith, they question what sort of man this is who commands the winds and the sea. Jesus, true God and true man, is the same one who has the divine authority to quiet any storm that might overtake us. He asks us to have faith in this.

God, help me trust you today as I face its little uncertainties and anything that might overwhelm me with anxiety and fear. Isn’t it enough, Lord, to know that you are with me at all times? Yet, I sometimes fail to call that to mind when I have throughout the day the greatest opportunities to live out complete faith and trust in you. Give me the grace, then, to remember in confidence that you are with me in troubled times and in times of peace. I trust in you, Lord; my soul trusts in your word.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Memorial of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, Virgin

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 10:16-23)

Jesus said to his Apostles: “When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say. For it will not be you who speak but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will hand over brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved.”

Jesus continues to instruct the Apostles as he prepares to send them out “like sheep in the midst of wolves.” He tells them that they will be handed over to courts and scourged in synagogues, led as witnesses before governors, kings, and pagans for his sake. When they are to be handed over, Jesus reassures them, they are not to worry about what to say but that it will be the Spirit of the Father speaking through them. In the first reading, Jacob responds to God who calls his name. “Here I am,” Jacob says. God says to him: “I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make you a great nation.” Just as God made of Jacob a great nation, through his Son he prepares the apostles and every believer for challenges and opposition in carrying out his mission.

God, help me realize that in interacting with others as I proclaim your kingdom—even in speaking your name—that I may face contempt and rejection. I am often hesitant when the opportunity comes and fail to find words. Give me the grace to be, as Jesus says, shrewd as a serpent and as simple as a dove. Teach me to put aside any worry and trust that it is you speaking through me when the moment comes. Help me call to mind the words of Jesus when I am hated because of your name: “whoever endures to the end will be saved.”

Lord, help me be unafraid to know and do your will today. From the Gospel acclamation: “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you to all truth and remind you of all I told you.” Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, pray for us!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Thursday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew (Mt 10:7-15)

Jesus said to his Apostles: “Whatever town or village you enter, look for a worthy person in it, and stay there until you leave. As you enter a house, wish it peace. If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; if not, let your peace return to you.”

Today’s Gospel continues from yesterday’s. Jesus sends the apostles out to proclaim the kingdom of heaven. Instructing them to trust God, he tells the apostles what not to take: no money or possessions; no extra clothing; no sandals or walking stick. Again, teaching them that God can provide for their needs through the generosity and hospitality of others, he tells them to wish peace on every house they enter. “If the house is worthy,” Jesus says, “let your peace come upon it; if not, let your peace return to you.” He also tells them to shake off the dust from their feet if they are rejected. Just as the apostles would enter many houses, every new day is an opportunity to enter the lives of many people to wish them peace and to proclaim the kingdom of God.

God, how willing am I to take your Son’s invitation to detach from material possessions and abandon myself completely to your providence? When I leave provision to myself, I fall face down and never get enough, never gain enough, and by doing that close off all channels to receive your grace. To the extent that I proclaim your kingdom, I rely on others’ hospitality and openheartedness and swallow my pride—not a comfortable place to be. Yet, it is peace that enters into that place, and peace that returns to me if I am rejected because of you. God, give me the grace to trust that you will provide all that I need; let my trust in you be a means of your peace to others.

Lord, thank you for all your gifts. Help me see how you provide for me as I proclaim your kingdom to the people I encounter today.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.