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Jesus Christ, Himself, informed us in John 16:33 that "In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." So how are we to be of good cheer with all we have to deal with, from little annoyances to life-altering events? Christ tells us to be of good cheer because He, through His grace and mercy on the cross, has overcome the world for us!

Feast of St. Francis Xavier, S.J.

Isaiah 29:17-24

Psalm 27:1, 4, 13-14

M atthew 9:27-31  And as Jesus passed on from there, two blind men followed him, crying aloud, "Have mercy on us, Son of David." (28) When he entered the house, the blind men came to him; and Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" They said to him, "Yes, Lord." (29) Then he touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faith, be it done to you." (30) And their eyes were opened. And Jesus sternly charged them, "See that no one knows it." (31) But they went away and spread his fame through the (entire) district.

Meditation by Don Schwager

A re there any blind-spots in your life that keep you from recognizing God's power and mercy? When two blind men heard that Jesus was passing their way, they followed him and begged for his mercy. The word mercy literally means "sorrowful at heart". But mercy is something more than compassion, or heartfelt sorrow at another's misfortune. Compassion empathizes with the sufferer. But mercy goes further; it removes suffering. A merciful person shares in another's misfortune and suffering as if it were their own.

When two blind men approached Jesus, he questioned their earnestness. "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" Jesus put them to the test, not to rebuff them, but to strengthen their faith and trust in God's mercy. He touched their eyes, both to identify with their affliction and to awaken faith in them. Their faith grew as they responded to his word with confident hope. Jesus restored their sight – both physically and spiritually to the reality of God's kingdom.

Faith opens the way for us to see the power of God’s kingdom and to experience his healing presence in our lives.

In Jesus we see the fullness of God's mercy and the power of his kingdom – power to save from death and destruction, to forgive sins and lift the burden of guilt, and to heal infirmities and release the oppressed. Jesus never refused to bring God's mercy to those who earnestly sought it. How can we seek and obtain God's mercy?

God gives mercy to the lowly in heart – to those who recognize their need for God and for his forgiveness and healing power. God wants to change and transform our lives to set us free to live as his sons and daughters and citizens of his kingdom. Faith is the key to this transformation. How can we grow in faith? Faith is a gift freely given by God to help us know God personally, to understand his truth, and to live in the power of his love. For faith to be effective it must be linked with trust and obedience – an active submission to God and a willingness to do whatever he commands.

The Lord Jesus wants us to live in the confident expectation that he will fulfill his promises to us and bring us into the fullness of his kingdom – a kingdom of  righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Romans 14:17). Do you know the peace and joy of God's kingdom?

"Lord Jesus, help me to draw near to you with faith and trust in your saving power and mercy. Free me from doubt and unbelief that I may approach you confidently and pray boldly with expectant faith. Let your kingdom come and may your will be done in me."

Supplementary Reading

Above It All

Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth -Colossians 3:2

I 'm reading Colossians today and, upon reaching Chapter 3, verse 2, my mind is instantly transported to one particular day not too long ago. On that day, my alarm didn't go off. I'm late for a meeting. A car cuts me off on the freeway at breakneck speed (his alarm must not have gone off this morning either). My friend is going through a real struggle in his life and I'm not sure my counsel is helping.

I'm still stressed about a doctor's report I'd received a few weeks before. What do you mean my cholesterol and blood pressure are too high? It's never been "too high" before. My doctor tells me to watch what I eat and lower my stress levels. I tell him that I watch what I eat every night and those burgers and pizza look awfully good! He should also try to lower his stress levels and still drive on Southern California freeways.

Our lives, no matter where we live or what our circumstances, are filled with distracting and distressing thoughts, feelings, and emotions. Jesus Christ, Himself, informed us in John 16:33 that "In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." So how are we to be of good cheer with all we have to deal with, from little annoyances to life-altering events? Christ tells us to be of good cheer because He, through His grace and mercy on the cross, has overcome the world for us!

Paul picks up on this theme by telling us to set our minds on the things above, not on the things of earth. In other words, it's time for us to see the big picture. To stop looking at the trees in front of us, but elevate our minds above the forest and see its vast beauty. The farther we get above our problems, the smaller they begin to seem. Life may not always be a bed of roses, but there always is the sweet, sustaining fragrance of our Savior Jesus. No matter what we are going through, He is always there for us!

Set your mind on things above, and the things of earth will soon start to look much different to you.

Heavenly Father, how gracious You are to me! Be my comfort in the midst of my trials and tribulations. For, indeed, You have overcome the world, giving us a future and hope eternal with You! In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen. — Joel & Victoria Osteen

GOD BLESS US ALL!

O Theos Na Mas Evlogisi!
PRAY as if everything depended on HIM. ACT as if everything depended on YOU. – Bobot Apit

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