“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 5th Week in 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 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 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…
Problems will, for sure, often beset 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 SACRAMENTS OF ETERNAL LIFE

The Church celebrates the mystery of her Lord “until he comes,” when God will be “everything to everyone.”
Since the apostolic age the liturgy has been drawn toward its goal by the Spirit’s groaning in the Church: Maranatha!
The liturgy thus shares in Jesus’ desire: “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you . . . until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”
In the sacraments of Christ the Church already receives the guarantee of her inheritance and even now shares in everlasting life, while “awaiting our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour Christ Jesus.”
The “Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come . . . Come, Lord Jesus!”

St. Thomas sums up the various aspects of sacramental signs: “Therefore a sacrament is a sign that commemorates what precedes it – Christ’s Passion; demonstrates what is accomplished in us through Christ’s Passion – grace; and prefigures what that Passion pledges to us – future glory. (CCC # 1130)