“Not allowing the ‘burglar of anxiety and trouble’ to steal away our peace and joy in life!”

(Based on Acts 14:19-28 and Jn 14:27-31a – Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Easter)

For several years, a woman had been having trouble getting to sleep at night.

The reason was that she feared burglars (thieves).

One night her husband heard a noise in the house, so he went downstairs to investigate.

When he got there, he did find a burglar.
“Good evening,” said the man of the house. “I am pleased to see you.
Come upstairs and meet my wife. She has been waiting 10 years to meet you!”

“Anticipating troubles” is one of the greatest troubles that is faced by people!

It is said that “If pleasures are the greatest in anticipation, just remember that this is also true of trouble.”

The Gospel of the Day presents Jesus warning us of this danger of increased anxiety levels and troubled moments and instead invites us to lead a life of peace.

Jesus says in Jn 14:27 “Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid”

The context of this statement of Jesus is the discourse at the Last Supper.

Jesus informs them of his imminent going away from the disciples, which made them sad and anxious.

They had placed their hopes in Him.
They had offered their lives to Him.
But His announcement of departure caused worry and anxiety to the disciples.

Jesus, Who knows their hearts and gauges their emotions, however, assures them, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives, do I give it to you” (Jn 14:27)

The disciples entered into an anxiety mode as their hearts got wearied with what was to come immediately.

But Jesus invites them to go beyond such peripheral worries, and be assured of a peace that comes as a result of trusting in Him, the Lord of all future!

When one is imprisoned in the immediate worries of life…
… one fails to enjoy the true freedom of peace and joy

When one is landlocked amidst the borders of impending fears and troubles of life…
… one is unable to move out to experience real inner tranquillity and serenity

Are we finding ourselves often in situations, when our “hearts are troubled” (Jn 14:27b) and as a result, “troubled to the point of losing sleep?”

Jesus, the Master Doctor of hearts, is ready with remedies…

He would give us the tablet of His peace which would subside our fears
He would give us the tonic of His soothing Word which would calm our troubles

Troubles will, without any doubt, always haunt us…

But we need to grow in our understanding that in all this, Jesus, is in perfect control of our lives.

It was this deep faith that motivated the early Church to give powerful witness to the Resurrected Lord.

Despite their persecutions and hardships, they remained faithful to the Mission of the Kingdom and encouraged one another
“… When Paul and Barnabas had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.
… And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting, they committed them to the Lord in whom they believed!” (Acts 14:21-23)

Let not the “burglar of anxiety and trouble” steal away our peace and joy in life!

Instead, May Jesus, the Master of our hearts, take complete charge of our lives

In Him, we shall experience fervent joy.
In Him, we shall live with true peace.

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
THE CELEBRATION OF THE CHRISTIAN MYSTERY – THE SACRAMENT OF MATRIMONY – Marriage in the Lord

The entire Christian life bears the mark of the spousal love of Christ and the Church.
Already Baptism, the entry into the People of God, is a nuptial mystery; it is so to speak the nuptial bath which precedes the wedding feast, the Eucharist. >> Christian marriage in its turn becomes an efficacious sign, the sacrament of the covenant of Christ and the Church.

Since it signifies and communicates grace, marriage between baptized persons is a true sacrament of the New Covenant. (CCC # 1617)