Saturday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time

Today's Mass Readings

Aspire to live a tranquil life, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your own hands, as we instructed you. 1 Thessalonians 4:11

St. Paul encourages the church at Thessalonica to “aspire to live a tranquil life.” Calm. Serene. Peaceful. Sounds nice. But I wonder how many Christians today wish they could live a tranquil life.

I’m sure we can all imagine why some (probably many) of our brothers and sisters in Christ are not living a genuinely tranquil life. Anger. Hurt. Anxiety. Depression. Stress at work. Stress at home. Financial difficulties. Marital problems. Broken families. Broken communities. Many things can prevent us from aspiring to live a tranquil life in Christ.

But there is always hope.

Some things are within our power to change for the better, like seeking guidance and help. But some things we just have to be patient with, offer up to God, and practice being present to our own emotions and needs.

One spiritual author writes, “The life of the Christian community in such a situation is itself the proclamation of the gospel to the pagan world” (McKenzie et al. The Two Epistles to the Thessalonians, vi). By aspiring to live a tranquil life, you can fulfill the Gospel. By working with your own hands, you have the opportunity to sanctify your daily work. By minding your own affairs, you can focus on the many blessings you already have and cultivate gratitude.

For Today:
Write down one thing you are grateful for, one thing you are looking forward to, and one thing you will try to do differently today.

Reflection by Br. Luke Kral, OSB