Jn 16:29-33
His disciples said, “Yes, now you are speaking plainly, not in any figure of speech! Now we know that you know all things, and do not need to have anyone question you; by this we believe that you came from God.” Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? The hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each one to his home, and you will leave me alone.
Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!”
New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.
Courageous in the Face of Hardships
“I am not alone because the Father is with me. I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage.”
People often used the phrase “unprecedented times” to describe the hardships of the past few years. As a collective humanity, in the past 2 years we experienced a pandemic, civil unrest, political insurrection, mass shootings, and extreme environmental catastrophes, just to name a few. Yet, we can still name more devastating events we have witnessed and experienced.
All of this is disheartening. But in today’s Gospel, John gives us a seed of hope. Jesus says that the Father is with him, so in him we have peace, and lastly, we are asked to take courage.
What troubles are you experiencing today? How is God calling you to be courageous in the face of hardships?
—Lindsay Horn is an Associate Director of Youth Ministry at the Jesuit Spiritual Center in Milford, Ohio.
Prayer
Sarum Primer Prayer
God be in my head
and in my understanding;
God be in my eyes
and in my looking;
God be in my mouth
and in my speaking;
God be in my heart
and in my thinking;
God be in my end
and at my departing.
—Author Unknown, c. 1514