May 12 - "Peace I leave with you..."

[MariaChristi]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Today’s Gospel is Jn 14: 27 -31, continuing words from yesterday’s post:

Jesus said to his disciples:
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.
Not as the world gives do I give it to you.
Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.
You heard me tell you,
‘I am going away and I will come back to you.’
If you loved me,
you would rejoice that I am going to the Father;
for the Father is greater than I.
And now I have told you this before it happens,
so that when it happens you may believe.
I will no longer speak much with you,
for the ruler of the world is coming.
He has no power over me,
but the world must know that I love the Father
and that I do just as the Father has commanded Me.”

Perhaps you’ve already listened and pondered the Mass Readings for today. I wasn’t able to post earlier since our computer service provider had some “technical difficulties”, but I did listen with the ears of my heart to Jesus" words in my Bible and was very grateful for them. It isn’t always easy – to remain in Jesus’ peace, even though we know He our Way, our Truth and our Life, Who gives us all we need.

It isn’t always easy to understand Jesus’ words – but – we can learn from Mary who did not understand Jesus’ words when she and Joseph found Him in the temple (Lk 2 41-51). We hear in verse 51 of Luke’s Gospel:

His mother kept all these things in her heart.

God is Mystery and so we need to listen prayerfully and when we don’t understand, we can look at Mary’s example to follow and keep all these things in our hearts. May the Lord mercifully grant us His peace through Mary our Mother who in perfect faith and humility listened and did the Truth she heard from Jesus, even as the conclusion of today’s Gospel tells us Jesus always did what He heard from His Father.

If by God’s Grace, we “Behold our Mother” as Jesus told us to do, we can “see” how to follow His Way, His Truth and to live His Life! Come Holy Spirit, overshadow us as you overshadowed Mary that Jesus may truly live in us. There is much to ponder in all three options for Mass Readings today. I chose the Gospel for Tuesday in this Fifth week of Easter – however the other options are beautiful and equally appropriate for us during these days of trial.

Optional memorial for the martyrs; Saints Nereus and Achilleus, HERE.
Optional memorial for St. Pancras, martyr HERE

 

[MariaChristi]

Thanks Stephie,

Your faith-full loving “heart” is always a welcome sight! These days of Covid-19 have been difficult for so many of us, and yet they hold opportunities for us to grow in the Supernatural Faith of our Baptism. Our Mother Mary was preserved from Original sin, but we have inherited the consequences of that sin from Adam and Eve and we do battle daily in seeking to overcome the temptations we face.

Mary our Mother is such a “gift” to us for she helps us to look to Jesus as she did. She believed with perfect faith, and no doubting – even as Luke tells us in his Gospel that Mary and Joseph did not understand the words of Jesus when they found Him in the Temple, but Mary kept those words in her heart, and pondered them, always open to the Holy Spirit.

As I continue to ponder that scene in Luke 2: 41 - 52, I pray I can be open to hear the Truth Jesus wants me to hear, by the power of His Holy Spirit. When I hear Jesus say to His disciples (and to us) today’s Gospel: “…the world must know that I love the Father and that I do just as the Father has commanded Me,” I realize if we are to be true followers of Jesus as Mary was on this earth , then the world needs to know from our words and example that we too love the Father and do as the Father commands us.

Please let us pray for one another and for the Church, that we may all receive that Peace Jesus leaves with us – the Peace He gives is not as the world gives. Let us not be troubled or afraid. Let us by God’s Grace remain in Jesus’ Way, Truth and Life.

 

[MariaChristi]

Dear QuietTrad,

Thanks so much for your “working hard” – God gives us His Grace to help us and He wants us to work with Him! God sends Mary to earth to help us also. In honoring Mary, with your gratitude for her Apparition at Fatima, I believe you honor Jesus also for He delights in seeing us appreciate His Mother to whom He gave so much love.

All of us have difficulties when we look back at things we wish we had not done or said, in the past, but God is a God of Mercy and His Love endures forever. Let us continue to pray to Jesus through Mary in loving gratitude for all they suffered for us, and let us by God’s Grace continue praying for His Grace to grow in holiness. Let us pray for all those in most need of God’s Mercy, especially tomorrow as we celebrate Our Lady of Fatima’s Feast Day!