FOURTH SUNDAY AFTER
PENTECOST (13th S. Ord. Time)
This Sunday focuses on trusting
in God in the midst of troubles.
Ester, Chapter 8, Verse 17
In each and every province and in each and
every city, wherever the king’s order arrived, there was merriment and joy,
banqueting and feasting for the Jews. And many of the peoples of the land
identified themselves as Jews, for fear
of the Jews fell upon them.
So Ester saves the Jews
and now it is cool to be a Jew. So cool that in Persia there were Jewish
posers. Interesting. Here we see God’s promise to those who trust that after
the trial, will come rejoicing; just as after the darkness of night the sun
does rise.
Brief Lesson[1]
There is no
better consolation under crosses and afflictions than the thought that all the troubles
of this world are not to be compared with the glory to come, and that which is at
present momentary and light of our tribulation worketh for us above measure exceedingly
an eternal weight of glory (n. Cor. iv. 17). And, therefore, St. Bede says: If we
had to bear for a while the pains of hell, it would not appear so hard, if thereby
we might merit to see Christ in His glory, and to be added to His saints.
St. Teresa of Avila, the famous Spanish mystic, once wrote: "Let nothing trouble you. Let nothing frighten you. Everything passes. God never changes. Patience obtains all. Whoever has God, wants for nothing. God alone is enough."
St. Teresa provides us profound words of wisdom for our present times. The staggering number of prescription drugs available for the many forms of uneasiness and tension illustrates that many of our contemporaries suffer deep inner turmoil. It is true that we are experiencing profound challenges: wars, continual threats of terrorism, problems within our Catholic Church, the rapidly accelerating unraveling of moral decency in our society, an uncertain economy and the terrible wounds caused by the dismantling of family life. Nevertheless, challenges such as these should remind us that we must always trust in God who is always with us. Trust is rooted in faith which is a gift. If your faith is weak, ask God to give you more faith. To do this incorporate into your lives four practices that are so basic for anyone who wants to be a serious Catholic: contemplative prayer, daily Mass or a prolonged visit before the Blessed Sacrament, daily Rosary and the frequent use of the Sacrament of Confession. These four things will allow you to trust God and they will provide you with the interior peace that all seek.
What are the practical steps that we can take in order to incorporate into our busy lives a serious spiritual life?
·
First of all, we need balance in our lives. When was the last time that we
enjoyed dinner with family and friends, or turned off our cell phone and
refrained from checking our email at every moment? Excessive work and travel,
excessive involvement in sports and entertainment are tearing us apart.
·
Secondly, a serious spiritual life requires the
capacity to be alone.
It is difficult to be alone in our contemporary society. Even when we are
alone, the noise of our own worries and fears drown out the silence of God's
voice. Many people are incapable of being alone and they immediately feel
an obsession to talk with someone on a cell phone or check their email. We
all need moments of solitude. Spending a quiet time before the Eucharist,
reading the Scriptures during a peaceful moment at home, taking tranquil walks
through the woods or along the beach all are necessary for our soul. In
order to be with God, we must develop the ability to be alone with
ourselves.
·
Thirdly, we need order in our lives. Working out daily schedules for the
entire family by setting realistic priorities and minimizing
extra-curricular activities for the children are steps that we can take.
Early to bed and early to rise is a wise principle which is still valid today.
Daily Devotions/Prayers
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