"Do not let your hearts be troubled."
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On this Easter day we hear the voice of Jesus in the gospel tell us, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.”   Many people loves hearing this particular gospel passage especially when preparing for the Funeral Mass of a loved one who died.  It’s a direct invitation from Jesus himself that amidst death and sorrow, there is that Christian hope, that voice that tells us, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.”

This invitation of Christ is followed by another invitation, “Have faith in God, have faith also in me.”  To be able to practice the first invitation, we must embrace the second.  It is necessary to have faith in God, in Jesus before we can let our heart rest in Him despite our many burdens and troubles in life.

Now, the faith that Jesus invites us to have is not a mere intellectual ascent and lip service.  It takes more than just saying “I believe in Jesus”.  Our other Christian brothers and sisters are right when they say we need a personal relationship with Jesus too.  But, like a commercial on the television, that’s not all.  We also need to abide by what the Lord has established for us as our proper way to come to the Father, the sacraments.

When Jesus rose from the dead, it was necessary that He reminded His disciples about the opening of the word and breaking of the bread (The Mass).  Then, He also commissioned them to forgive sins (Confession).  Also, He asked them to baptize in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Then the disciples troubled hearts were able to rest in Him despite persecutions.

To have faith in Jesus, the way He taught and instructed us and not our own way, is what gives us the strength not to have trouble amidst life’s difficulties and sorrows.   Do not let your hearts be troubled.  Give God everything that troubles you in confession and receive Him fully in the Eucharist, pray everyday and establish your relationship with Him.  He is the way, the truth and the life.  That’s when miracles begin to happen.

What's troubling my heart today? What events, situations, or people are troubling my heart preventing me from seeing the Risen Lord?

Is my faith "intellectual" or "heart-filled"? Do I just know a lot about Jesus and what he's done? Or is my faith part of my heart, part of my very being?

Do I give the Lord everything in Confession? Do I have a daily habit of examining my conscience each evening, giving my troubles over to the Lord?

"Lord, I need you."

"Lord, my heart is troubled with..."

"I love you."

Pray the Examen this evening. This is an ancient prayer from St. Ignatius that helps us give our troubles over to the Lord. There are many resources for this, but this is a way to begin: 1. Begin with Gratitude thanking the Lord for the things of your day, 2. Be aware of the times when you fell short today of following God's will, 3. Identify the significant moments of the day where God might have been speaking to you, 4. Be at peace, asking God to forgive you for anywhere you fell short, 5. In freedom invite the Lord into your tomorrow, making a resolve to do better in an area where you fell short.