Don’t be troubled: Reflection for Friday, May 16, 2025

Every age probably thinks it is living in the worst age. But things sure seem difficult in our age. The words of Jesus, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled” are needed now more than ever. Readings for Today.

Don’t be troubled

There are so many signs that we live in troubled times. Anxiety, depression, and other mental illnesses are more prevalent now than ever. There is much research to suggest that boys and men are really suffering.

And these are not unrealistic feelings of fear. There is open conflict all over the globe. There are areas like Gaza where people are literally starving. There are many people who simply do not see much in the way of hope.

And so how important is it that we seek to figure out the reason for our hope. Because the world needs hope now more than ever. But this is not a hope born out of a good government program or the hard work of social workers. This is a hope that comes from Jesus himself.

And the gospel we read yesterday comes right after Jesus washes the feet of his disciples. Washing the feet of another in the time of Jesus was an act of hospitality. But it was also humiliating. So humiliating that not even the lowliest Jewish slave could be forced to do it.

So that action is quite striking indeed for Jesus to perform. It is reasonable that Peter would have had difficulty with Jesus washing anyone’s feet, let alone Peter’s own feet. But the humiliation of washing feet was no match for the humiliation of the cross.

This previous gospel is important for us to remember as we look at the gospel for today. For it is in this action of Jesus that we can avoid being troubled. Jesus has done everything for us. Even though we can be troubled in life, we can never lose sight of the ultimate destiny Jesus has for us.

A place. We do not need to be troubled because Jesus has a place for us. Jesus conquers our troubled hearts with the outpouring of love from his own heart. And this is not a destiny or hope that is left to random forces. No. Jesus prepares this place for each one of us.

And the interesting irony of the cross is that it caused a great number of troubled hearts. And yet the source of our trouble becomes the very means of our salvation, our hope. We have a place prepared for us which arises from the darkest moments for the disciples.

For when we find ourselves troubled, it is an invitation to focus more on the love of Jesus for us. Consider what Jesus does for us. He died on the Cross for us, giving himself totally. He prepares the place for us in heaven. Time and again he pours grace into our hearts.

Jesus counters the difficulties in life with the promise that we are never alone. We can never find ourselves outside the realm of the love of Christ. Jesus on the Cross was thinking of each one of us individually.

And we can have absolute confidence in the love of Jesus because Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. And there is no reason for our hearts to be troubled. We never need to figure out what to do next on our own, for Jesus shows us the way, for he is the way.

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