Jesus said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling-places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going.” John 14
This Sunday’s Gospel reading, which mentions “Do not let your hearts be troubled,” is also translated as “Be at peace” and “Let nothing disturb you.” How often, however, over the past two months, have we been very much troubled, frustrated, or otherwise anxious? Who hasn’t felt lost? Who hasn’t wondered even “what day is it?” We want to know “the way” and we feel like we need to know “the way.” It is at such moments that Jesus comes along and reminds us that He is the Way! His encouragement is to continue to follow Him, one step at a time, one day at a time.
In this light, the words of Thomas Merton (Catholic monk and spiritual writer) can offer us some consolation and hope:
Prayer of Abandonment
My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself, and that I think I am following your will
does not mean I am actually doing so.
But I believe the desire to please you does in fact please you.
And I hope I have that desire in all I am doing.
I hope I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know if I do this you will lead me by the right road
though I may know nothing about it.
I will trust you always though I may seem to be lost
and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for you will never leave me to face my perils alone.
Thoughts in Solitude
