Peace be With You

It is no coincidence for me that this passage is read today as I battle with the temptation to be judgmental and resentful after a difficult week. In our life we find that we are faced with situations that disturb our inner peace and require healing.  The true test of one living a Christian life is whether we choose to accept the Holy Spirit to heal these wounds.  For me to continue to live in the world I must  acknowledge that my humanity alone will only lead me to paths of inner turmoil, anger, resentment, bitterness, etc. Thomas Aquinas and others have said that God allows us to face trial and tribulations so that we can be a model to others in how we react to these situations.

On this Divine Mercy Sunday we are given examples of God's infinite mercy on the disciples and first Christians as they full of fear and insecurity are given the presence of the risen Christ and through the work of the apostles.  Inspired by the Holy Spirit in Acts, the first Christians provide for the needy among them and the Lord added to the numbers. Peter proclaims that we may suffer through various trials (1:3-9) so that we may become refined as a testament to praise and glory of Jesus Christ. Mercy defined in Webster dictionary is the  kind or forgiving treatment of someone who could be treated harshly or kindness or help given to people who are in a very bad or desperate situation.  Are there people in our lives that are in need of mercy, the same mercy that Christ extended to all so the world could be a better place? It doesn't take but a minute in my case to find those who are in need of mercy. As Jesus did with Thomas even with his unbelief, let us extend mercy to those people who are in need so that the name of Christ may have life in a world that desperately needs it.

Where Do I Go?

Have you ever been inspired to seek a higher purpose? Do you hear a calling?  My life has been full of these questions and I have pondered these for many years.  Having a calling is indeed a blessing. For many finding their calling is a constant search.  What if you were to tune to God's channel?  Might the clarity of the calling be more pronounced?

Over the last coupe of years I have spent hours writing on spiritual matters in a journal. What calls me to do so? Not easily explained, but through many months of prayer and meditation I have felt a divine inspiration.  Have I been afraid to share this? Yes because these writings might change my life. 

With this in mind I have taken the next step and decided to publish this blog.  What may come of it? I don't know. What I do know is that there is a plan for me and much like Thomas Merton in the Seven Story Mountain, I will find confusion, fear, but also strength if I am tuned in.

Resurrection

Monday's readings Acts 2:14,22-33 Matthew 28:8-15

The Lord is risen. The Lord meets the women. The soldiers are paid to keep quiet. The last line stands out in particular in Matthew as the soldiers took the money and did as instructed, " You are to say, His disciples came by night and stole him while we were asleep." Are  we also paid off to not preach the resurrected Christ?  The climax of our Easter celebration, the ending of Lent, all are periods of great reflection and sacrifice.  This culminated in Sunday's hymn in which the choir sang "Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia!

So what is next?  Back to the hustle and bustle of our everyday life?  Back to our daily routine? The secular world is paying us off to move past Easter.  It lulls us to that complacency where we can be no different than that of the guards at Jesus' tomb.  Think for a minute.  Are your ready to back to your usual routine, to return to the things that you might have given up for Lent?  For me the answer is yes. Going back to not fasting on Friday's, to buy music on i-Tunes when I hear a song that captivates me.  I thus become bought off.

Indeed, I should be praying for the strength to carry the message and not immediately gravitate towards those things that I gave up. I should be praying for the strength of Peter, Mary Magdalene, and the first Christians who without hesitation once they realized what had happened and proclaim "I have seen the Lord."