“It can feel impossible to stand straight and raise our heads. But even in the midst of difficulties, God is with us”. Today’s reflection from the daily Mass.
BIBLE READINGS: You can find the readings for Thursday of Week 34 here (Universalis Website)
Albert Einstein famously said, “If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, of what, then, is an empty desk a sign?”
Each of us works and lives to various degrees of tidiness and chaos. Some people can’t cope with a thing out of place, their house like a show home. Whilst others are happy to leave the bowl of dirty dishes until the morning. It all depends on our personality. Sadly, some people’s lives are so genuinely chaotic that their lives may unravel and become out our control. They may have begun life with a troubled childhood, or been affected by difficult times or trauma throughout their lives. Some people may become dependant on drugs or experience very poor mental health. The world too at times may seem chaotic. Wars, violence, struggles and injustice, tough times and challenges.
The Bible begins with chaos, as we read in Genesis that God’s spirit hovered over the waters of chaos and began to create order and beauty from the formless void. The readings today are also filled with troubles and predictions of chaos. Daniel is plunged into the deathly lion’s den, and Jesus prophesies war and tumult and difficult times. He tells us not to be surprised, but to expect it but he ends with this moment of encouragement. “When these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”
When bowed down by the pressures and difficulties of life, it can often be difficult to find a way forward, to see the light in the darkness, the hope in the midst of despair. It can feel impossible to stand straight and raise our heads. But even in the midst of difficulties, God is with us. Our redemption is at hand.
MASS TODAY
Mass today on Thursday 27 November is at S Dyfrig and S Samson’s Church at 10am.
DAY BY DAY
If you’d like more resources for daily prayer then check out our DAY BY DAY pages.
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