Focus on the fact that He is with you. Remember that He is walking with you and guiding you to a place of peace and victory. No matter what has happened, He will take what the enemy meant for evil and turn it around for your good! He always leads us in victory, so keep moving forward trusting in the good plan He has for you!

Tuesday of the 26th week in Ordinary Time

Job 3:1-3, 11-17, 20-23

Psalm 88:2-3, 4-5, 6, 7-8

L uke 9:51-56 When the days drew near for him to be received up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. (52) And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him; (53) but the people would not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. (54) And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, "Lord, do you want us to bid fire come down from heaven and consume them?" 55 But he turned and rebuked them. (56) And they went on to another village.

Meditation by Mike Cherney

T oday was not an easy day at work. Half of the difficulty grew out of poor communication (both on my part and on the part of others) but just as much grew out of a fundamental disagreement about how to proceed. Days like this leave me frustrated with a feeling of discomfort in my stomach. It leaves me sleeping poorly and I notice the change in my heartbeat. I find myself losing focus and becoming reactive. I can relate to the words the words of frustration found in the first reading and the psalm.

I also begin to see how insignificant my problems and worries really are. I think of the true moments of crisis. For me these have almost always been family issues rather than work issues. These times of loss put days like today into perspective. Still I find it too easy to be distracted by the flyspecks and to lose sight of the big picture.

In the case of Job, he had the right to be frustrated; his greatest gifts had been lost as Satan put him to the test. In the case of Jesus, having just been rejected by the people of his hometown, he finds rejection again in the Samaritan village. Although we hear the aggravation of Job and of the Apostles, Job and Jesus persevere. Faced with truly major concerns, they keep their focus. Any feelings of vengeance are put aside. They move forward in their mission. In my opinion both will end up short changed, but both ultimately rest in the light of the Father’s favor.

My prayer today is for perspective and perseverance.

Dear Lord,

I ask for the strength to recognize what is truly important.

I ask not be bogged by small impediments.

I ask for the strength to continue on my mission.

I thank you for your love and your grace.

And I pray that my satisfaction comes from the right source.

Supplementary Reading

It's No Surprise to God

But thanks be to God, Who in Christ always leads us in triumph…" - 2 Corinthians 2:14

In life, we all have to deal with the unexpected. Just because we're believers, just because we're good people or doing the right thing doesn't make us exempt from trouble. The scripture says, "The rain falls on the just and the unjust." In times when something unexpected happens, or you find yourself facing a crisis, you don't have to go into "panic mode" or fall apart emotionally. Remember, that crisis is no surprise to God. It may be unexpected to you, but God knows the end from the beginning. He has solutions to problems that you haven't even had. He has equipped you for every battle, and He goes before you making your crooked places straight.

Today, focus on the fact that He is with you. Remember that He is walking with you and guiding you to a place of peace and victory. No matter what has happened, He will take what the enemy meant for evil and turn it around for your good! He always leads us in victory, so keep moving forward trusting in the good plan He has for you!

Heavenly Father, I come to You with an open and humble heart. I thank You for the victory that You have in store for me even when I can't see it. I choose to trust You and Your goodness knowing that You are faithful. In Jesus' Name. Amen. - Joel & Victoria Osteen