Frederick, Maryland, United States - Daily Mass Reading & Catholic Meditation “The Word Among Us” for Friday, 30 May 2014

Frederick, Maryland, United States - Daily Mass Reading & Catholic Meditation “The Word Among Us” for Friday, 30 May 2014
Meditations: John 16:20 Most certainly I tell you, that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy. 21 A woman, when she gives birth, has sorrow, because her time has come. But when she has delivered the child, she doesn’t remember the anguish any more, for the joy that a human being is born into the world. 22 Therefore you now have sorrow, but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.
23 “In that day you will ask me no questions. Most certainly I tell you, whatever you may ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.
6th Week of Easter
You will grieve, but your grief will become joy. (John 16:20)
When we watch a movie or read a book, it’s usually pretty easy to follow the plot. We understand the story because we see one event following from another, and we begin to get a feel for where the story is heading. Wouldn’t it be nice if life worked the same way? The problem is that when you’re “inside” a story, it can be easy to lose the thread of the plot and to wonder where it is heading.
As Jesus approached his crucifixion, he tried to help his disciples with this sort of confusion. He knew that they would be faced with a huge challenge when they saw him die on the cross. To prepare them, he explained that this was part of the great story that he had called them into. They would experience wrenching grief, and they would feel out of step with the rest of the world. But that wouldn’t be the final chapter. Their grief would be turned to joy, and the story would take on a whole new meaning.
Do you believe that your life is part of this same story? In fact, you are a child of the author! While the disciples had to wrestle through the grief of Jesus’ death, you have come in later in the plot. You know about Jesus’ resurrection! If you can try to center your life in Jesus’ victory, you’ll know a joy, a stability, and a peace that nothing in this world can take away from you.
At times we lose sight of God’s story. We forget that our joy comes from Jesus’ salvation, not from the story that the world offers us. Losing focus, we can begin to lose our trust that God is with us. That’s why we need to immerse ourselves every day in the story of the Scriptures. We need God’s word to sharpen our focus.
Never forget that you are part of an epic story. You are one of the “great cloud of witnesses” whose lives have been changed by the Lord (Hebrews 12:1). You aren’t just a passive observer; you’re an active participant. You have a role to play today in moving this story forward. So get out there and do it!
“Lord, teach me the wonderful story of your salvation. Help me to make it the story of my life.” Amen.
Acts 18:9 The Lord said to Paul in the night by a vision, “Don’t be afraid, but speak and don’t be silent; 10 for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many people in this city.”
11 He lived there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them. 12 But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul and brought him before the judgment seat, 13 saying, “This man persuades men to worship God contrary to the law.”
14 But when Paul was about to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews, “If indeed it were a matter of wrong or of wicked crime, you Jews, it would be reasonable that I should bear with you; 15 but if they are questions about words and names and your own law, look to it yourselves. For I don’t want to be a judge of these matters.” 16 He drove them from the judgment seat.
17 Then all the Greeks laid hold on Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, and beat him before the judgment seat. Gallio didn’t care about any of these things.
18 Paul, having stayed after this many more days, took his leave of the brothers, [a] and sailed from there for Syria, together with Priscilla and Aquila. He shaved his head in Cenchreae, for he had a vow.
Footnotes:
a. Acts 18:18 The word for “brothers” here and where the context allows may also be correctly translated “brothers and sisters” or “siblings.”
Psalm 47:2 For Yahweh Most High is awesome.
    He is a great King over all the earth.
3 He subdues nations under us,
    and peoples under our feet.
4 He chooses our inheritance for us,
    the glory of Jacob whom he loved.
Selah.
5 God has gone up with a shout,
    Yahweh with the sound of a trumpet.
6 Sing praise to God, sing praises.
    Sing praises to our King, sing praises.
7 For God is the King of all the earth.
    Sing praises with understanding.
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