Have you ever been so scared that it troubled your heart? I remember two times in my life that I was profoundly scared. The first time was the night of Hurricane Betsy in 1965. I am all of 8 years old, hunkered down in the house with the family when the adults got very concerned. Seems the wind was lifting the roof from the house and the fear was it would come off, collapsing the walls. A split second decision was made to abandon the house, flee to the car and attempt to drive to a shelter only a block away. Everything I remember of getting into that car, driving to the shelter, running from the car was shrouded in fear. But I was 8 years old; I was scared, I can't say that my heart was troubled.
Fast forward to about 10 years ago when my fear was coupled with a troubled heart. My LSU sophomore daughter called the house on a Friday night from her part-time job at a yogurt store; the fear palpable in her voice. She had been robbed at gunpoint and forced to the freezer along with two young customers. My fear. upon hearing the news and rushing to Baton Rouge was much different than fleeing a storm as a young boy. I believe my heart was troubled.
There are many things in life that can scare us. Dare I say that on this weekend perhaps our fighting men and women, although profoundly brave and self-sacrificing, probably faced moments of fear too. May the memory of these men and women, our veterans, be eternal.
As people of faith Jesus tells us to be not afraid; do not let your hearts be troubled.
Twice in His Last Supper discourse we hear the words from Jesus: "do not let your hearts be troubled." In this instance Jesus is explaining that He will be going away and the gift of the Holy Spirit will be sent to each of them. Here Jesus is trying to prepare his followers for all the events that are about to happen, including His Ascension which we celebrate next week and the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, which we celebrate in two weeks. And building on the Gospel message from last week, Jesus reminds us to love one another, as He loved us. His promise if we do this: both the Father and the Son will come and dwell in each of us and the Father will send to strengthen us the Advocate, sometimes called the Paraclete from the Greek, Paracletos, which we know is the Holy Spirit. What a promise; the fullness of the Trinity dwelling and working in us.
We also see this promise in today's reading from Revelation. We hear again about the heavenly Jerusalem; the new Jerusalem. The new Jerusalem symbolizes perfection; 12 foundations, a perfect cube, twelve gates each made from a single pearl; ever heard of the "pearly gates"? There is no Temple in the new Jerusalem; there is no need because the full glory of God Almighty and the Lamb are present. To gain entrance to the Holy City we are told to have a deep thirst for God and be a conqueror through the Blood of the Lamb and the word of one's testimony. Then the names of all who are written in the book of life may enter. Ah, let not our hearts be troubled. Of course for those who insist on remaining unclean, insist on not following the Lamb and rather practice every abomination imaginable, these can never enter.
In the Old Testament we were promised that God would dwell with His people among life-giving rivers and healing trees; this is now fulfilled in the new heavenly Jerusalem. This is a future of great hope and a help for us now in times of difficulty, toil and trouble.
Let not your hearts be troubled! This is the 2nd time this week I have heard these beautiful words. The 1st time was at the funeral Mass celebrating the life of our Deacon Don. He selected the Gospel passages just before these heard today; the first time Jesus used these words in John 14; the Last Supper discourse. Deacon Don left these words of Jesus for us in our final farewell of a life well lived. In honor of Deacon Don and to more fully grasp Jesus' words, can we pray with John 14 in the week ahead? Also, at the funeral, Deacon Mark mentioned in the homily that Deacon Don drew great strength from praying the Psalms. Can we pray a psalm or two a day as we continue to pray for the repose of the soul of our beloved Deacon Don.
Ever been scared; ever had your heart troubled; do not be afraid; do not let your heart be troubled; turn to Jesus, trust in Him.
No comments:
Post a Comment