Peace and Calm

The WORD today reminds me that God’s peace will keep me calm amidst the storms in life. 

According to Peter Pan, we can fly when we think of happy thoughts. This is similar with Happy Gilmore – he thinks of happy thoughts before making a tough shot. In the first reading, we see St Stephen who probably had this also, but his is not only happy thoughts, but thoughts of God.

Only God's peace can make you calm amidst the storms in life.

In the first reading, St Stephen was being accused of false things, and he was in trouble. He was brought to the Sanhedrin and false witnesses testified against him. However, he did not panic. He did not defend himself. He did not get mad. Instead, he was calm. He was at peace. The people saw his face was like the face of an angel. He had this peace, because his focus is on God. Others say that there is divine brightness or light. Calm. He is able to remain like this because he trusted on God. He did not let anything distract and disturb him.

We can only have peace like Stephen if we focus on God. We can only be calm amidst all life’s distractions and concerns when our eyes are set on God. When we focus on Him, things would be placed in the proper perspective. We would realize that this world is not where we belong, that this is not our final destination. When we focus on Him, we would be assured that God would always be there to help and strengthen us.  This would give us peace, and when we have peace amidst all the problems and concerns, then people will see God working in our lives. They would know that there is someone who keeps us sane, who gives us incredible peace. 

How great it would be to be like that. It must be so cool to have that inner peace that no matter what happens, God is still in control. It must be great to have that intimate relationship with God, having faith that no matter what lies other people say about you, or how helpless you may seem, God will not abandon you and will always, always take care of you.

With the corona pandemic, it is easy to panic. Situation is very challenging. However, now is the time to let God’s peace envelope our hearts and minds. Now is the time to be calm amidst all the fear and chaos. Now is the time to showcase what God brings to our lives, and what blessings from God we can share to bless others as well. 

Do I have faith in God? Do I trust him? Do I hold firm to my faith? Does God give me peace and keep me calm, no matter what the world tells me or makes me feel? Do I work on my relationship with God so I can be like St stephen? How am I reacting to the covid pandemic? What is God telling me today? 

In times of storm and challenges in life, may we be inspired by St Stephen. God can calm the storm in our lives. May we live our lives at peace and with calmness in our hearts. May Christ in us calm the storm and not let it affect us.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another week. Thank you for another chance to experience your peace. Thank you for the storms and challenges in my life that enable me to strengthen my faith, that enable me to magnify you in my life. Lord, sorry for the times I panic. Sorry for the times I think the world is stronger than you. I pray that I be like St Stephen in the first reading, whose calmness and faith in you was made evident by his appearance. May other people see you in me, especially in the storms and challenges in life. As people see you in me, may it also lead them to you. Amen.

Blessed Week!

In Christ,

-g-

April 27, 2020

3rd Week of Easter - Monday; St. Gianna Beretta Molla

FIRST READING

Acts 6:8-15

Stephen, filled with grace and power, was working great wonders and signs among the people. Certain members of the so-called Synagogue of Freedmen, Cyreneans, and Alexandrians, and people from Cilicia and Asia, came forward and debated with Stephen, but they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke. Then they instigated some men to say, “We have heard him speaking blasphemous words against Moses and God.” They stirred up the people, the elders, and the scribes, accosted him, seized him, and brought him before the Sanhedrin. They presented false witnesses who testified, “This man never stops saying things against this holy place and the law. For we have heard him claim that this Jesus the Nazorean will destroy this place and change the customs that Moses handed down to us.” All those who sat in the Sanhedrin looked intently at him and saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM

Psalm 119:23-24, 26-27, 29-30

R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!

or:

R. Alleluia. 

Though princes meet and talk against me, your servant meditates on your statutes. Yes, your decrees are my delight; they are my counselors.

R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!

or:

R. Alleluia. 

I declared my ways, and you answered me; teach me your statutes. Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous deeds. 

R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!

or:

R. Alleluia. 

Remove from me the way of falsehood, and favor me with your law. The way of truth I have chosen; I have set your ordinances before me. 

R. Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!

or:

R. Alleluia.

ALLELUIA

Matthew 4:4b

R. Alleluia, alleluia. 

One does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God. 

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

GOSPEL

John 6:22-29

[After Jesus had fed the five thousand men, his disciples saw him walking on the sea.] The next day, the crowd that remained across the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not gone along with his disciples in the boat, but only his disciples had left. Other boats came from Tiberias near the place where they had eaten the bread when the Lord gave thanks. When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into boats and came to Capernaum looking for Jesus. And when they found him across the sea they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?” Jesus answered them and said, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled. Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him the Father, God, has set his seal.” So they said to him, “What can we do to accomplish the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent.”