Daily Gospel Reflection for September 7, 2016

Today's Gospel: Luke 6, 20-26

I suffer from anxiety and depression. For years, I lived undiagnosed, assuming that I was just prone to feeling sad sometimes. I have cultivated tools wade through my episodes. These tools run the gamut from exercise, spending some time outside, changing my surroundings, confession, and speaking with a priest, to name but a few. I find that scripture, for me, speaks when I need it most. I chose to write about this reflection completely at random. As we all know, nothing is random for God.

I can’t say enough how this passage in Luke helps me when I am both at peaks and valleys in my life. In the first part of the passage, I am reminded that my sorrow, anxieties or feelings of despair won’t last forever. I am comforted in knowing that I will laugh again, I will smile and feel lighter. This is a reality I can hold onto despite my turmoil at the time. Lest I forget when I am feeling happy, delighted or free, the next part of the passage reminds me that inevitably, I will run into hard times. This isn’t to pull me back down, but to keep my perspective. The full passage reminds me that the one constant, regardless of joy or sorrow, is Jesus. He will help me out of bed, when I feel that I can’t, and He will be with me when I enjoy the sun as it bathes my face in warmth and light.

Ponder:

How can you give yourself the gift of His peace today? Where are you right now in your life? Are you the rich and the fed? Or are you the poor and hungry? Know that Our Lord will be with you in every season of your life; you need only trust Him.

Pray:

Lord, I thank you for giving me the grace to know that I am never lost, I am never without help, and I am never without you, no matter the storm.

Copyright 2016 Cristina Trinidad

Cristina is a married, stay at home mother of two children. A new Etsy shop owner, she enjoys creating hangable + wearable hand embroidered hoop art designs with the right touch of whimsy. When not stitching, you can find her on Instagram. Join her newsletter and enter to win a handmade embroidery hoop every month!