FRIDAY, FIFTH WEEK OF EASTERTIDE
Acts 18: 9-18 Ps 47: 2-7 Jn 16: 20-23
CHALLENGES ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR GOD’S GRACE
In Acts we see how the risen Lord continues to guide Paul and strengthens him in moments of uncertainty. In Ex 3:12 God assured Moses that he will be with him. In Jos 1:9 God tells Joshua to be “strong and courageous…for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Paul too receives the promise of divine presence. These words remind us that God’s servants never walk alone. How many times in the day am I aware of God’s presence with me? Paul’s ministry in Corinth bore much fruit. During his stay at Corinth, he wrote letters to the Thessalonians, Corinthians, and nurtured these young churches with encouragement and guidance. Opposition and unpleasant circumstances are never absent in a Christian’s life. How do we respond to God in the diverse situations of our life: Are we happy, able to praise and thank God? Paul teaches us that we must place our efforts in the working of the Holy Spirit. Like Paul, we are invited to trust God’s grace that sustains and guides us, and also our trials into testimonies of faith.
Psalm 47 invites us to lifts our hearts in praise. The psalm reminds us that God reigns. Even when Paul stood before those who opposed him, it was God’s sovereignty that protected the mission. The psalm invites us to rejoice, sing praises to God who is faithful and victorious.
In the Gospel, Jesus prepares His disciples for sorrow that will turn into joy. In the present situation, it may appear that Jesus refers to the faith-experience of communion with him which they will have in the Spirit. We see how this promise sustains Paul, the early Church, and us today, when we place our trust in Jesus and rely on the Holy Spirit. The risen Lord transforms suffering into witness, and sorrow into lasting joy. We are invited to trust, speak boldly, and to live with confidence that Christ is with us. Our mission may face resistance, but the Spirit turns every challenge into an opportunity for grace. Which areas in my life do I need to ask for God’s grace?
Response: God is king of all the earth.
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