Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.
Today's Gospel: Luke 12:8-12
At this point in Jesus’ ministry, He has shown His command over creation by calming the stormy seas, liberating demoniacs, healing those who dare to reach out and touch Him, and raising the dead to life. At the same time, He is revealing Himself to us. Only God can forgive sins, feed 5,000 with five loaves of bread and two fish, then give His power to the disciples to work similar miracles. He revealed His true identity to Peter, James, and John in the Transfiguration. He then gave the apostles the Our Father.
He had thousands of the multitudes falling over one another (Luke 12:1) despite the Pharisees and lawyers following Him around attempting to refute Him. Pressure is upon Jesus and His disciples from all angles. Jesus had just given them a moral lesson in hypocrisy: Righteous behavior brings us back into relationship with God. In that relationship, we have no fear nor anxiety; “Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins? Yet not one of them has escaped the notice of God.” (Luke 12:6) We are of more value than they.
In our Gospel today, Jesus does not want fear to drive us away from Him. Fear causes us to stay silent when we should speak God’s truth by sharing the Word. Worse, we sometimes make our own claim upon the work of the Holy Spirit. Attributing the Spirit’s work to our own glory is an offense to the very Spirit giving us the breath with which we speak. When we hand that fear over to Jesus, He will fill us with His Spirit, Who gives us charism of speech.
But this requires trusting that Jesus will ‘come through’ for me. Can I take Him at His Word and believe?
Ponder:
What would it feel like to live without anxiety and fear? To have the Holy Spirit move my soul to speak and my guardian angel to carry those words to others?
Pray:
Jesus, give me the belief to trust in your Word, the hope to conquer my fear, and the love I need to bring Your message of hope to others with courage and steadfastness.
Copyright 2022 Debra Black
About the Author
Debra Black
Debra Black is a spiritual director, perpetual member of the Fellowship of Catholic Scholars, international educator, and businesswoman. Her public service roles have spanned city commissioner, pregnancy clinic board of directors, youth and college ministry, public citizen activism, and homeless street ministry. Her writings can be found at TheFaceOfGraceProject.com, including her latest books, The Life Confession: A Discovery of God’s Mercy and Love and Kick Butt: The Quick Guide to Spiritual Warfare.
Comments