Tag: Protection

This is a reflection on the Mass readings of the day.

Jesus’ words in reference to the sheep of His flock in today’s gospel figure high on the list of His reassuring utterances:

I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish. 
No one can take them out of my hand. 
My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all,
and no one can take them out of the Father’s hand. 

At times as we strive to live our Christian life, the words of the now-invisible Jesus can seem so faint, as the roar of the world antagonistic to His word swirls around us, that we can become frightened and perturbed. We can feel like the disciples in the boat on the lake, when Jesus was asleep. At those times we need to call to mind that, even if He is invisible and cannot be heard, Jesus is active in our lives. He is active, not only to inspire us and demand a certain way of life from us, but also to protect us in His grace.

Today’s gospel shows that Jesus is well aware of the dangers threatening His sheep. We don’t need to understand fully those dangers, overpower them, conquer them. All we need do each day is cling to Christ, who assures us that no one can take us out of His protecting hand.

It was with this confidence that the disciples in today’s first reading launched out past Israel into the country of the Greeks, trusting that no pagan influence could take them out of the hands of their Lord. If we have this confidence as well, no fear will keep us from doing God’s will for the salvation of our brothers and sisters.

Ideas for conversation with the Lord: Ask Jesus to give you the same confidence in His protection and guidance that the first apostles enjoyed. Tell Him that you trust Him to lead you actively, even when you do not sense His presence.