Daily Meditation - Sunday 27April 2008 - SIXTH SUNDAY EASTER - FINDING PEACE AND JOY

[BarbaraTherese]

Readings
usccb.org/nab/readings/042708.shtml

Meditation
wau.org/meditations/meditations.asp?month=4&day=27&year=2008&x=16&y=8

**Acts 8:5-8,14-17

“There was great joy in that city.” (Acts 8:8)**

“If you’re happy and you know it, then your face will surely show it.” Though these words come from an old campfire song and not a theology book, they still apply to the Christian life.

We can be sure that many who listened to Philip’s words and saw God working in their midst ended up with smiles on their faces. They found deliverance and healing that day, and their whole attitude was transformed. ***They weren’t just healed—they were as different as day from night. ***

---

• This transformation can still happen today as we turn to God and let his joy become our strength.
• He always keeps his promises, and he’s ready to help us
• even when life’s pressures beat us down.
• All we have to do is try our best
• to lay our burdens at his feet
• and quiet our racing minds.
• Then we’ll be able to hear his voice.

As we free ourselves from distractions, we will sense his presence, and begin to feel the unmistakable joy that only he can give us

.

• It’s a heartfelt peace that often comes out in a smile,
• a laugh,
• or a glint in our eye—
• and there’s no way we can fake it!

At Mass today, thank God that has given you so many ways to share in his joy.
There is probably no greater joy than participating in the sacraments.
Receiving the Eucharist can bring us a contentment beyond understanding, as we are saturated with Christ’s love

And what a relief when we have gone to Confession, knowing our sins have been washed away!
We can also find joy in answers to prayer,

which show us how much God is involved in our lives.

• We have so much to praise God for—
• so many reasons for our joy. And even better,
• it’s contagious!
• So go before the Lord to get filled up,
• then spread that joy everywhere you go!
  “Jesus, your love brings a smile to my face. Help me to spread your joy around, so that one day we will praise you together around your throne!”

 

[BarbaraTherese]

Peace and Joy are awesome gifts of God to be grateful for! … there are times, however, when either our own sufferings or empathy and sorrow for the sufferings of others weigh heavily upon us and then we share in the Sufferings of Christ and/or of His blessed mother at the foot of His cross.
All things without exemption flow from The Loving Hands of God either through his direct or permissive will.
“All things pass, God alone remains”

Ecclesiastes

All human things are liable to perpetual changes. We are to rest on God’s providence, and cast away fruitless cares.

1

All things have their season, and in their times all things pass under heaven.

• 2 A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted.
• 3 A time to kill, and a time to heal. A time to destroy, and a time to build.
• 4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh. A time to mourn, and a time to dance.
• 5 A time to scatter stones, and a time to gather. A time to embrace, and a time to be far from embraces.
• 6 A time to get, and a time to lose. A time to keep, and a time to cast away.
• 7 A time to rend, and a time to sew. A time to keep silence, and a time to speak.
• 8 A time of love, and a time of hatred. A time of war, and a time of peace.