For the Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time…
Brothers and sisters:
Have no anxiety at all, but in everything,
by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,
make your requests known to God.
Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding
will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7
Growing up, I was the oldest child in my family. As a teen, I carried a lot of responsibilities inside and outside the home. Besides going to school each day, I also held a job that consumed much of my time. I took the job because of our family’s increasing financial instabilities. Yet it also gave me a role in determining my own future. That is not say, I was without worry.
Yet the timing of those increased responsibilities coincided with a teen retreat experience that brought me face to face with Christ and his Word. And a conversion of heart that let me know that the Word was true. These verses were among the first to be underlined in my Bible. The idea of letting go of my anxieties and letting God know my prayers and petitions was life changing. And I earnestly began the conversation we call daily prayer.
Decades later, I still believe and trust in these verses and their promise that God will send his peace to guard my heart and mind. It is more than just looking on the bright side of things or having the grace of persevering under pressure. This is how a living faith leads to peace, by uniting our hearts and minds daily with Christ.
Lord, thank you for your invitation to pray today. May I know your peace in my heart and mind.
