Jesus said to his
disciples: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the
world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.
You heard me tell you, ´I am going away and I will come back to you.´ If you
loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father; for the Father is
greater than I. And now I have told you this before it happens, so that when it
happens you may believe. I will no longer speak much with you, for the ruler of
the world is coming. He has no power over me, but the world must know that I
love the Father and that I do just as the Father has commanded me." (John
14: 27-31a)
Introductory Prayer: Lord, thank you for
granting me the opportunity to be with you. There are things in life, Lord, that
attract me, but you attract me more. I hope in you, and I love you. Maybe I
don’t really understand what it means to love, and maybe I don’t love the way I
should, but I do love you.
Petition: Lord, help me always
to remember who I am, where I come from, and where I am going.
1. Activism: In today´s culture,
many people believe, almost religiously, that what they do will eventually make
them someone. They believe that from doing flows being, since their activity
defines them. This makes it easy for them to be exploited. In nineteenth
century America, a slave was often not told his birthday, so he could never
really know who he was. He was just made to work. This same temptation exists
today. Many people work such long hours — some as a means of escape from
difficulties or responsibilities at home; others for the satisfaction they feel
seeing a job completed; still others, just to earn more money and to be able to
afford a more comfortable life. However, these are all manifestations of the
same slavery.
2. My True Identity: With his example,
however, Christ shows us a different way of life, a way that goes against the
current. First I have to be. Then my doing will flow from my being.
Christ says again and again: I am the Son of my Father. Now I will act
accordingly. When Moses asked God of the burning bush who he was, he said, “I
AM who AM.”
Who am I? What defines me is my relationship to God. Just imagine
this: I have the privilege of being a child of God! God has loved me so much
that he has adopted me as his child! This is something worthwhile. This is who
I really am, and I should act accordingly, as Christ taught me.
3. True Peace: Christ´s great peace
comes as a consequence of meditating on and living out who I really am. When I
meditate, I discover that I am God’s creature. Suddenly, I find the strength to
face reality. Others will be unable to exploit me, and I will stop exploiting
others because I am – and they are – children of God. My dignity derives from
this fundamental truth: I was created in God’s image and likeness. I came from
God, and he is inviting me to return to him and be happy with him for all
eternity.
Conversation with
Christ: Lord,
I have the bad habit of focusing on my doing. That is why I am always anxious.
I want to be like you, Lord, seeing first who I am and letting my activity flow
from that. This will bring me peace. However, Lord, I need your grace. Help me
to live as a true son or daughter.
Resolution: Today,
I will do two kind acts to someone who is troubled in order to help them
experience God’s love for them.
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