Open the Door of Faith May 8

And when they arrived, they called the Church together and reported what God had done with them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. Acts 14:22

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. John 14:30-31

Piety

Let us pray: Jesus, again you tell us that you do not want us to be troubled or afraid. You do everything in your power to prepare us for the work ahead. Yet, nothing can truly prepare us for the separation from you. Help us to pick up our cross of hardship and bear it calmly and without reservation. No matter what the trial is that we face, may your peace descend upon us and remain in our hearts, minds and souls until we are reunited with you. Amen.

Study

http://www.usccb.org/nab/050807.shtml

Once again we are confronted with the contrast between the Kingdom of God and the world. The ruler of the world has no power over Jesus. Try as they might to wipe him and his followers from the earth, they cannot.

Instead, Jesus brings and leaves the peace of shalom with his followers. This is a peace that gets them stoned, jailed and crucified. That may not be what came to mind first when Jesus offered his “Shalom.” As the disciples matured in their faith and following, they realized that the path to peace would also mean that “It is necessary…to undergo many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God.” Peace comes at a price. As the saying goes that Sam passed out in group last month: “Faith is a gift from God that catapults itself into human experience with a high degree of unpredictability.”

The first of these hardships was losing the Lord’s presence. Yet, as a true friend, Jesus worked to prepare the disciples for the parting. “And now I have told you this before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe.” In these parting words, we learn that Jesus is ending his discourse and will not be speaking much from here on out but instead he will be doing what the Father commanded.

Through it all, the overriding love of Christ for his friends comes through time and time again…as he stresses, “Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.” He knows what lies ahead.

Action

Who do you know with a heavy heart today? Perhaps you know someone with a sick relative. Perhaps you know someone who has recently lost a loved one to illness, disease or accidental death. Turn to that person today and offer them help to endure their hardship.