With Untroubled Heart

May 8, 2012

Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Easter

By Beth DeCristofaro

From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work they had now accomplished.  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 14:26-27)

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.  (John 14:27)

Piety

You are the peace of all things calm
You are the place to hide from harm
You are the light that shines in dark
You are the heart's eternal spark
You are the door that's open wide
You are the guest who waits inside
You are the stranger at the door
You are the calling of the poor
You are my Lord and with me still
You are my love, keep me from ill
You are the light, the truth, the way
You are my Saviour this very day.

(You Are God - Celtic oral tradition - 1st millennium

From www.worldprayers.org )

Study

Over the weekend, my mother, husband and I went to see the movie “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.”  It was a sweet, feel-good show with laughs, great actors, some important topics and saturated with the gorgeous colors of India.  With no spoiler alert needed, one of the characters comes to mind as I read today’s passages.  The young manager of the not-so-best-nor-exotic hotel is irrepressibly positive and exuberant about his hotel.  As the guests survey the crumbling, dirt-streaked walls, he encourages them to “see my vision” of a luxury place for the elderly and disabled to be pampered and cared for.

The disciples were faced with pretty poor odds as they (few as they were) went from city to city proclaiming the good news to interested Jews and Gentiles, many who did not care and some who were hostile.  Yet they continued, with the peace Christ had given them, without fear and refusing to be troubled or in spite of it.  They reported what God had done with them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.  They believed, they knew and they acted as if they were not alone and that the odds against them were neither important nor of their concern.  God would and did open the door of faith.

Two thousand years later we do not stand on a crumbling, dirt-streaked mound but within a vibrant Body of the Lord.  And we come together to affirm and renew our living and acting without fear nor troubled hearts.

Action

Turn off the news! for just one night spend time with God.  Read a chapter of that neglected spiritual book or go to your parish for an hour of Adoration.  Can you let your heart be neither troubled nor afraid because God is opening the doors of faith for you?