“Inviting Christ to calm the storm within and to experience His Divine Peace!”

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

It was a cloudy afternoon, and the flight had just begun to descend.

But suddenly there were a few bumps and a strong turbulence.

People started glancing nervously out the windows. The usual cabin chatter faded, replaced by disturbed tension.

One lady clutched her rosary.
Another gripped the armrest.
A man muttered, “I don’t like this.”

But in the middle of it all, a little girl sat peacefully in her seat, colouring her book.

She was calm. Focused.
Not the slightest trace of worry on her face.

A woman sitting beside her leaned over and said gently, “Sweetheart, are you okay? Aren’t you scared?”

The child looked up, smiled, and said simply:
“No. My daddy’s the pilot…
… and he told me before we took off that he’d get me home safely.”

Boom!

That’s trust.
That’s peace.
Not because the skies were smooth…
… but because the heart knew Who’s in control.

That’s the peace the Lord – the Pilot of our life – offers!

Not necessarily a change in the weather, but a change in the heart.

The Gospel of the Day presents Jesus warning us of the dangers 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.

But Jesus, who knows their hearts and gauges their emotions 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?”

Then Jesus, the Master Doctor of hearts, needs to be immediately consulted…

He gives us the tablet of His peace which would subside our fears
He gives 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.

Indeed, we can’t stop the storm from raging around us…
… but we can invite Christ to calm the storm within!

Let Jesus, the Doctor of hearts and the Pilot of our lives, 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!

— Fr Jijo Jose Manjackal MSFS
Rome, Italy
Email: reflectioncapsules@gmail.com

---

📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
MAN’S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT – GOD’S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE – The Fourth Commandment – The Family and the society

Filial respect promotes harmony in all of family life

… it also concerns relationships between brothers and sisters. (CCC # 2219)