Reading 1 Acts 14:19-28
In those days, some Jews from Antioch and Iconium
arrived and won over the crowds.
They stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city,
supposing that he was dead.
But when the disciples gathered around him,
he got up and entered the city.
On the following day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.
After they had proclaimed the good news to that city
and made a considerable number of disciples,
they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch.
They strengthened the spirits of the disciples
and exhorted them to persevere in the faith, saying,
"It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships
to enter the Kingdom of God."
They appointed presbyters for them in each Church and,
with prayer and fasting, commended them to the Lord
in whom they had put their faith.
Then they traveled through Pisidia and reached Pamphylia.
After proclaiming the word at Perga they went down to Attalia.
From there they sailed to Antioch,
where they had been commended to the grace of God
for the work they had now accomplished.
And when they arrived, they called the Church together
and reported what God had done with them
and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.
Then they spent no little time with the disciples.
arrived and won over the crowds.
They stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city,
supposing that he was dead.
But when the disciples gathered around him,
he got up and entered the city.
On the following day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.
After they had proclaimed the good news to that city
and made a considerable number of disciples,
they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch.
They strengthened the spirits of the disciples
and exhorted them to persevere in the faith, saying,
"It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships
to enter the Kingdom of God."
They appointed presbyters for them in each Church and,
with prayer and fasting, commended them to the Lord
in whom they had put their faith.
Then they traveled through Pisidia and reached Pamphylia.
After proclaiming the word at Perga they went down to Attalia.
From there they sailed to Antioch,
where they had been commended to the grace of God
for the work they had now accomplished.
And when they arrived, they called the Church together
and reported what God had done with them
and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.
Then they spent no little time with the disciples.
Gospel Jn 14:27-31a
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."
I think as Christians we often gloss over the scriptures today. We are under the delusion that if we follow God with everything we have, life will be easy and care free. This just isn't true...look at the lives of most saints...Following Christ requires vulnerability to worldly danger and hardship, look at what Christ did for us to save us. However at the same time He leaves us "Peace" ..."not as the world gives do I give it to you."
Just last week we read that God will give us what we ask in His name. If we are in constant prayer and our greatest desire is to be with God, and to gain souls for Him, we can be sure that any hardship we bear in His name will gain fruit for His Kingdom. As Mothers, we have many opportunities to experience hardship in the challenges of bringing a child into this world and then to raise the child to love and serve God. So far, my path has not been easy, and from what I gather, it isn't for most, but if we remain in Christs love by constant prayer, thanksgiving, and communion we will have the Peace to bear all these things For His Glory.
Father, I have learned so much about you by becoming a mother, the pain I experience when my children struggle is so great, it must only touch the surface of How you feel when your children stray from your love. Help all mothers who read this today to have your Peace. Amen
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