Reflect on how to live from a place of victory in Christ despite life's challenges, inspired by the Gospel of Mark 16:9-15.
Today's Gospel: Mark 16:9-15
In the face of so many senseless tragedies, it is natural to be concerned about the state of the world and to speculate about its future condition and how that may affect our children. It often feels as if our world is falling apart and the enemy has the upper hand.
However, as Christians we are to be living not fearful of defeat but from a place of victory, confident that, in Christ, it is already a reality.
Wasn’t it the same after Jesus’s death? Our Savior had just been brutally crucified. Israel was under Roman occupation and remained subjugated to their control. The disciples were fearful for their own lives. It must have felt to them as if the world was falling apart and hope was gone. Though they had the Scriptures, Jesus’s promises, and reports of His having risen, victory felt far from reality for them, too.
However, we have a God who is all-powerful and is capable of doing exactly what He has said He would do.That same God loves us without limit and will fulfill His word. Though it may not seem like it now, victory is indeed His, just as it was on the day Jesus was nailed to the cross and put to death.
Our job is to continuously put our trust in His promises and in His goodness, knowing He has already won and will bring that victory to fruition at the proper time.We must instill that same hope in our children. We also need to teach them how to keep their eyes on Christ and on His victory, even when they cannot see it.
Ponder:
Do I live more often from a place of victory or a place of defeat? How can I live more from a place of victory?
Pray:
Lord, this is a difficult time in history, and some things feel scary, especially when I think of my children and what they may face in their lifetimes. But I know You are more powerful than anything that is happening, and I know I can be assured that You are working all things to good for us all.
Pray Together:
Help your children to look for God in hidden places – in the Eucharist, in nature, in the love of family and friends – and to understand that God is present at all times, no matter what happens. Talk with older children about the difficulties our world is facing, comparing that to Jesus’s death and His victory at a time when all appeared lost.
Copyright 2026 Kimberly Andrich
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