Do Not Be Troubled

Sunday Gospel Reflection
DO NOT BE TROUBLED
By Josie Gonzalez

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me.” Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. The gospel reading gives us a scenario where the Lord Jesus gathers His apostles and gives them words of wisdom amidst their worries, and fears and anxieties of what was to come. It was a Master assuring His flock that everything was going to be just fine and He would never leave them. The scenario was Jesus’ last supper with His apostles in a Passover meal at the Upper Room the night before He died, capped by the institution of the Eucharist. To this day, the Eucharistic celebration is a Catholic Church rite as a perpetual reminder of our oneness with God through Jesus Christ, the way and the truth and the life. The gospel repeatedly tells us that Jesus is the way to the Father. Jesus, in His human form, did acts of kindness, healed the sick, fed the hungry, and performed miracles so that we may know the Father in Heaven. In verse 11, Jesus says, “Believe in me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else, believe because of the works themselves. “Jesus’ words of wisdom during the Last Supper are deep and profound and the Last Supper itself, where Jesus communed with his apostles physically and spiritually, is just as profound, it being the significant historic moment of the institution of the Eucharist that to this day is God’s expression of His eternal love for us. What then should we do to deserve that eternal love of God? Jesus, in this gospel, said, “I am going to prepare a place for you. I will come back again and take you…” How ready are we when Jesus comes back? Scary! But no, if we make it a habit to commune with the Lord Almighty, seek forgiveness for our sins, repent, and pray unceasingly.

I read and reread the gospel as I was doing this reflection and it dawned upon me that Jesus is talking to us right now assuring us that He is with us fighting the invisible COVID virus. Do not let your hearts be troubled, have faith in the Father, have faith in me, Jesus tells us. While people now live in fear, anxiety, financial strain, and emotional and mental stress, the lock-down is an opportunity to read the Bible and reflect, learn something different, look at the sky and the clouds, cook, do a veggie garden, read, write, and paint.

While hearing the 6 am mass on TV last Sunday, Good Shepherd Sunday, Fr. Jerome, the priest presider, shared in his homily the story of the homeless who lined up for relief but were turned down. A priest saw what happened and the good ending is the homeless found shelter, food and lodging in some schools that took them in where they now enjoy the basics of life; until when, we don’t know but lock-down gave them some decent living. My daughter and I have our own little story of sharing and doing an act of kindness during this COVID crisis. Since I am a senior citizen and #stayhome, my youngest daughter was kind enough to distribute face masks to super mart guards, UP Health Service, military front-liners at East Avenue. My house-help, too, gave face masks to garbage collectors and some informal settlers in the neighborhood. We also shared with Grab riders rice, canned goods and face masks. Where financial assistance was a better option, we shared with UP-PGH doctors and other worthy causes. A little sharing but the joy in our hearts was indescribable – so fulfilling to be part of a bigger purpose, a bigger mission.

What is your purpose and mission in life? When Jesus said, “In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be.” what runs through your mind? Wouldn’t you be ecstatic? Overwhelmed with joy? What then is your purpose and mission in life? Our sole purpose in this physical life is to serve the Lord with all our hearts and minds until we join Him in eternal bliss in His kingdom. In the meantime, let us enjoy spiritual communion with the Lord in the confines of our home during this lock-down. God bless us all.

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