Thursday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
I once heard the saying that a pessimist is an optimist with experience. Can you really experience life and still be hopeful? I do believe the answer is yes. An optimist is someone who makes the best of their experiences. We will have both positive and negative experiences in life. We can’t control everything that happens. We can choose how we respond.
Hebrews speaks of how Moses was “afraid and trembling” in the presence of the Lord. He was terrified. Hebrews tells us we need not fear for we have approached Mt. Zion. We are in the City of the Living God, the Heavenly Jerusalem. We have a hope that isn’t rooted in things here on Earth. We have Divine life with God in Heaven.
Jesus sent His twelve disciples out in today’s Gospel. He sent them out with only the necessary items. These disciples trusted in Jesus and followed His instructions. They in turn were able to do amazing things. They cast out demons and cured many through anointing. How happy they must have been to take part in the Lord’s mission. I think the most important thing about this scene is that the disciples could not have done this if they were pessimistic towards Jesus’ promise. The disciples would doubt Jesus’ promise at times. Think of the time when Peter walked out on the water towards Jesus. He doubted and then began to sink. Today’s Gospel passage is one of the times where the disciples didn’t doubt Jesus, and they found success. Eventually, they would go from being twelve disciples to twelve apostles, sent out to proclaim the Good News of Jesus their Savior.
Reflection: G.K. Chesteron once wrote that Christians have an “irrational optimism.” We are optimistic not because of some worldly scheme or rational hypothesis. We have our hope in the promise Jesus provides. Are you prone to cynicism at times? Do you find yourself despairing because of a bad situation or seemingly hopeless event? Remember that we have our hope in the eternal promise of Jesus.
Reflection by Br. Matthew Marie, OSB
Posted in Articles for Ordinary Time, Daily Reflections