Today's Thoughts...

Today’s Thoughts: Today has an optional memorial on the Church calendar honoring St. Joseph the Worker. My reflections today, focus on the readings of the day, but I would first like to pause and honor, remember St. Joseph for a moment. The parish I grow up in was named St. Joseph. One of my grandfathers and my only uncle had the name Joseph. So, St. Joseph was a pretty important image in my early life. I have always liked this memorial honoring him and as our readings today focus on the gift of Jesus’ peace, we can certainly say that St. Joseph was a man of peace. May St. Joseph walk with us today and every day as we search for peace in our own lives!
 
And now on to my reflection for the day…
 
Peace is one of the most elusive gifts whether we are searching for it personally or as a family or a culture and society. There are so many things that can get in the way of peace in life. It can be the minor irritations of life like traffic, construction, a person on a cell phone sitting next to us or spring allergies. It can also be the major realities of life, civil war, civil unrest, injustice, warring nations, terrorism and natural disasters. There are many things that can get in the way of a peaceful moment and a peaceful life.
 
Jesus in the Gospel today offers us peace. Yet he reminds us that the peace he offers is not of this world. In fact, the peace that Jesus offers cannot be found in this world. His peace lies beyond this life and flows from his relationship with the Father, the Creator of peace.
 
Jesus reminds us that we need not be troubled or afraid that even though we cannot encounter his peace in this world, he will not forget us. In other words, to encounter the peace that Jesus offers we need to somehow let go and let God!
 
Peace is what we all want in our personal lives and in our world. We encounter it occasionally, for a moment, however it doesn’t last. Something always comes along to disturb the peace. Thus, we need to be people of faith; we need to be people of hope.
 
Amid life’s struggles the early Church continued to move forward. They did not get down they did not give up. It was through God’s grace that the Good News was preached. It was because the early Church had faith and hope in God that their hearts were not afraid or troubled. They were on the journey towards the peace that Jesus offers. Let us be people of faith and hope today. May we not be troubled or afraid because we are willing to let go and let God!
 
Have a wonderful Tuesday everyone.