.

TODAY’S WORD…

.

Rejoice in the Lord always.

I will say it again: Rejoice!

Let your gentleness be evident to all.

The Lord is near.

.

Do not be anxious about anything,

but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,

present your requests to God.

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,

will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

.

– Philippians 4:4-7 (NIV)

.

.

.

REFLECTION…

.

Because of the nearness of our Lord,

we the faithful – even if we are living in difficult conditions –

can still have joy in our hearts

This kind of joy in adversity

can only come from placing our hope in Jesus Christ

and knowingly and faithfully trusting in Him

.

The Lord is, in fact, always near us,

always caring for us in His providence.

Therefore, there is no reason for us to feel ill at ease.

He is our Saviour,

He is near to all who call on Him,

He listens to our prayers,

ever ready to instruct us

and to give us whatever we need to overcome difficulties that arise.

.

All that God asks is that we trustingly share our situation with Him,

speaking to Him with the simplicity of a child

– not that He doesn’t already know what’s troubling us,

but He really wants to hear it from us.

.

Constant dialogue with God in prayer and petition

is a good way to prevent anything or anyone

from robbing us of peace of soul.

.

.

.

QUOTE…

.

"This is the difference between us and those who do not know God

– they complain in adversity,

but difficulties do not draw us away from virtue or from the true faith.

On the contrary, our virtue and faith are reinforced in affliction"

.

– St. Cyprian

.

.

"For a Christian, joy is a treasure.

Only by offending God do we lose it,

because sin is the fruit of selfishness,

and selfishness is the root of sadness.

Even then, a bit of joy survives under the debris of our soul

– the knowledge that neither God, nor Christ’s Mother, forgets us."

.

– St. Josemaria Escriva

.

.

.

REPETITIVE PRAYER FOR TODAY…

.

My Lord and my God, I trust in You!

.