DIVINE WHISPER with FR. PIUSRALPH EFFIONG, SMMM

TUESDAY OF THE 13TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME OF THE YEAR

Mystery of the day: Sorrowful

Celebration of the day: Memorial of St Elizabeth of Portugal

(1271-1336). She was the daughter of King Peter III of Aragon and was named after her great-aunt, St. Elizabeth of Hungary, whose virtues she also inherited. In her married life with King Denis of Portugal, she endured trials with heroism. On more than one occasion she went to considerable pains to bring about peace between her children and their father. After her husband's death she became a Franciscan Tertiary and showed unfailing charity towards the poor.

Theme: Be still...

"Why are you afraid, O men of little faith?" Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm." (Matthew 8:26)

The Psalmist summarized the central verse of today's reflection, an extract from the Gospel pericope according to Evangelist Matthew when he said: "Be still and know that I am God..." (Psalm 46:10).

This beautiful lines of the Psalmist from the Old Testament reechoed in the New Testament account in the event of the raging and turbulent experience had by the Christ's disciples. In their despair they called on the Lord for assistance as they lost in thought. 

The Lord spoke up and rebuked the stormy sea, and instantly there was a great calm. (cf. Matthew 7:6.12-14)

Beloved in Christ Jesus, what represent the stormy sea in your life? Is it hardship, sickness, barreness of any kind, unemployment, etc.? No matter turbulent image you have as an experience, God whispers to you: "Be still.." And on the other way round, He said: you only need to stay calm for I will fight your battle. (Exodus 14:14). Indeed the battle is not ours but of the Lord's. Stay clue to Him in prayer and meditation and indeed the stormy wind in your life will cease. 

Finally, let us keep our faith and trust in God as the beginning and the end of every thing in our lives then we will experience stillness that the world cannot offer. Peace, be with you!

Let us pray

Eternal Word, we thank You for the many blessings we receive from You. We acknowledged the gift of Your love and grace offered us each day. In our turbulent situation we beg Thee O! Lord to sustain us with a firm faith in You. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.Amen.

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