As I settle into a pew to spend time in adoration, my worry and anxieties for the day riddle my body with tension, and my mind is clouded and busy. When my eyes settle on Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament on the altar, I take a deep breath. My pulse begins to slow, my body starts to relax, and my mind clears as words of gratitude fill my thoughts. “Thank you, Lord, for being present for me. Thank you for this opportunity to see you, sit with you, and love you.”
A sense of peace fills me. God is here. All the worries of the day pass away as I focus on my Lord, present in this great silence. Jesus’ words in today’s Gospel fill my head. “Peace be with you.” I respond, “Yes, Lord, I hear you. You want us to have peace in our days.”
As I sit for an hour in adoration, I ponder the remainder of the Gospel reading which tells us about the doubts and disbelief of the disciples. I’m not sure I’ve ever focused on the disciples in this particular Scripture passage. It strikes me that the disciples were clearly anxious, bothered, and fearful over what was happening.
These are men who knew Jesus, walked with Him, learned at His feet, and yet they were troubled. Jesus reassures them, eats with them, and teaches them. He reminds them who He is by doing the same things He did with them before His death and resurrection. They break bread, spend time with Jesus, and learn at His feet. They are offered peace.
We also are gifted much time with Jesus, yet many of us are anxious just like the Apostles were. Our lives are full of distractions, concerns, and worries. We rush from place to place. Yet Jesus is offering us the same thing He did to the Apostles: to spend time with Him, at Mass, in the Scriptures, and in adoration when possible. He is offering us His peace.
Let us pray: Thank you, Lord, for the gift of your peace. Remind me to keep my eyes fixed on You and spend time learning from You and resting in Your peace.
Mientras me siento en una banca para pasar un tiempo en adoración, mis preocupaciones y ansiedades del día llenan mi cuerpo de tensión, y mi mente está nublada y agitada. Cuando mis ojos se centran en Jesús en el Santísimo Sacramento en el altar, respiro profundamente. Mi pulso comienza a disminuir, mi cuerpo empieza a relajarse y mi mente se aclara mientras palabras de gratitud llenan mis pensamientos. “Gracias, Señor, por estar presente para mí. Gracias por esta oportunidad de verte, estar contigo y amarte”.
Una sensación de paz me inunda. Dios está aquí. Todas las preocupaciones del día desaparecen mientras me concentro en mi Señor, presente en este gran silencio. Las palabras de Jesús en el Evangelio de hoy resuenan en mi mente: “La paz esté con ustedes”. Respondo: “Sí, Señor, te escucho. Quieres que tengamos paz en nuestras vidas”.
Mientras permanezco una hora en adoración, reflexiono sobre el resto de la lectura del Evangelio que nos habla de las dudas e incredulidad de los discípulos. No estoy segura de haber prestado atención a los discípulos anteriormente en este pasaje bíblico en particular. Me llama la atención que los discípulos estaban claramente ansiosos, preocupados y temerosos por lo que estaba sucediendo.
Estos hombres conocían a Jesús, caminaron con Él, aprendieron a sus pies, y sin embargo estaban turbados. Jesús los tranquiliza, come con ellos y les enseña. Les recuerda quién es haciendo las mismas cosas que hacía con ellos antes de su muerte y resurrección. Comparten el pan, pasan tiempo con Jesús y aprenden a sus pies. Se les ofrece la paz.
Nosotros también recibimos el don de pasar mucho tiempo con Jesús, sin embargo, muchos de nosotros estamos ansiosos, al igual que los apóstoles. Nuestras vidas están llenas de distracciones, preocupaciones y ansiedades. Corremos de un lado a otro. Sin embargo, Jesús nos ofrece lo mismo que les ofreció a los apóstoles: pasar tiempo con Él, en la Misa, en las Escrituras y en la adoración cuando sea posible. Nos ofrece su paz.
Oremos: Gracias, Señor, por el don de tu paz. Recuérdame mantener mis ojos fijos en Ti y que pase tiempo aprendiendo de Ti y descansando en tu paz.
Lisa Henley Jones is a wife, mom, and native Texan. Her life is influenced by her Catholic faith and she shares it through writing and on her podcast, Of Sound Mind and Spirit, together with her sister, Shelly Kelly. For fun, Lisa enjoys reading, walking, dating her husband, and wearing the college colors of her young adult kids.
Feature Image Credit: Daniel McCullough, unsplash.com/photos/stained-glass-installed-in-wall-yJj-x3bBSao
The views and opinions expressed in the Inspiration Daily blog are solely those of the original authors and contributors. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of Diocesan, the Diocesan staff, or other contributors to this blog.
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