ST THOMAS AQUINAS, P.D. (Memorial) White

He was born in Lombardy near Naples. He joined the mendicant Dominican friars in 1244. He studied in Paris from 1245-1248 under Saint Albert the Great and was ordained in 1250. He taught Theology at University of Paris where he won his doctorate. One of his famous works was the Summa Theologica. His work has been seminal to the thinking of the Church. Pope Leo VIII commanded that his teachings be studied by all theology students. He was proclaimed a Doctor of the Church in 1567. He died on his way to the Council of Lyons in 1274.

First Reading: Heb 11:1-2.8-19; Psalm: Lk 1 R. v. 68; Gospel: Mk 4:35-41

JESUS BRINGS PEACE

BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP

When things are going well for us, we are often slow to pray. But when the going gets tough we easily turn to God. It is necessary to pray when things are going well. And even more necessary when things get so tough. The worst is not to pray at all. It is a disaster. And it becomes even more disastrous when we don’t pray in stormy times.

In our turbulent moments we call on God because the crisis we are experiencing is beyond us. We call on God because we do not know how to sort ourselves out. We do not even know how to explain what is happening to us. If we knew the problem, we would have sorted ourselves out. The disciples called on Jesus to intervene when the sea was troubled because they do not understand where the problem was coming from or what to do. “Master, do you not care if we perish?” they exclaimed. Jesus rebuked the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And there was calm.

In our stormy times, we should not fail to ask Jesus to intervene. We need to ask Jesus to hold us by the hand and to lead us. It is important we call on Jesus to hold and lead us through our turbulent times because our hands would be too weak to hold him. But if Jesus held us by the hand; he will not let go of us until we pull through. Jesus brings peace in stormy times. To forget this, is a disaster. And to remember this requires that we go on our knees and call on him, “Master, do you not care if we perish?” When we make this prayer in faith and trust; Jesus will hold our hands and give us peace.

PRAYER FOR THE DAY

Here are my hands oh Jesus!

Hold and lead me.

For my hands are too weak

to hold unto thee in this trying moment.

If I tried to hold thee; I may lose my grip.

But if you held my hands; I am safe.

When the storms of life arise;

hold me.

When I’m too weak to pray;

raise me up.

And when the troubles of life overwhelms me;

hold me to your side

and calm my troubled sea.

Here are my hands oh Jesus!