Take Courage May 24

The following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Take courage. For just as you have borne witness to my cause in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness in Rome.” Acts 23:11

For you will not abandon me to Sheol, nor let your faithful servant see the pit. You will show me the path to life, abounding joy in your presence, the delights at your right hand forever. Psalm 16:10-11

I made known to them your name and I will make it known, that the love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them. John 17:26

Piety

Let us pray: Jesus, pray not only for those who believe in you today, but also for those who will believe in You tomorrow through the words and works you send us to accomplish. May all humanity be united one, as you are in the Father and the Father is in You. May you dwell in us and let your light shine forth to the world to believe that the Father sent you into the world and that He loves us as He loved you, his only Son. Brother and friend, help us to live up to the responsibility that comes from being your gift from the Father and be with us wherever you go. Amen.

Study

http://www.usccb.org/nab/052407.shtml

Third Meditation

The High Priestly Prayer of Jesus/Prayer of the Hour of Jesus

Imagine walking in to tackle your toughest assignment. Maybe it is a big test. Maybe it is a big presentation. Maybe you have to write a big proposal. Maybe you have just met the students in the new class you are teaching this semester. Maybe you have to repair a house after a tree fell on it or a city after a hurricane flooded it.

And you hit the home run out of the park. You aced that test. You won the big contract. Maybe you just graduated from high school or college and its time to prepare for that new job or next step in your journey. You and the team go out for a drink…to have a party and celebrate with a dinner at your favorite restaurant. It’s easy to imagine that the success was all because of your own hard work.

Then, as the sun sets and you retire for the evening, the excitement of the day quiets down with the setting sun. You are finally alone in the dark as the last thoughts of the day leave your head.

That is when the Lord will come to you and give you an even bigger job to accomplish.

St. Paul may have thought that the troops sent by the commander rescued him. But it wasn’t that force. It was the power of the Lord. As the Psalm today reminds us, “The Lord will not abandon me.”

He will remain at your side – in unity forever. That is what he prays for and the Father always answers his prayer. Unity. Jesus and the Father are one. The Father is always in Jesus. Jesus and his followers are one. Jesus is always in us. “The love with which you loved me may be in them and I in them.”

Action

Maybe it is time to volunteer for that bigger assignment knowing that the Lord is with you. Consider sending in your application to be on one of the next Cursillo teams. Maybe if you have been on team, you want to apply to be Angel or even Rectora/Rector for a future team.

There are many other ways to increase your volunteer efforts. Read through the Sunday bulletin at your parish. What tasks does the Church need to accomplish? Lectors? Singers/cantors? Eucharistic ministers? Visitors to the sick? Leades for Just Faith classes? Leaders for Landings? What talents can you offer back to the One who gave you these talents in the first place.

Just as Paul succeeded in Jerusalem then was sent to Rome, where are you being sent next by the Lord? Wouldn’t it be nice if you didn’t have to do it alone? Wherever it is, whatever it is, the Lord will remain at your side.