Posted by The WORD in other words (2006) by Father Joel Mirabueno SVD – Occidental Mindoro
Monday 7th Week of Easter
Once, while traveling by boat to a coastal barrio in Lubang, Occidental Mindoro, my boatman and I were caught in stormy weather. Darkness was quickly approaching, and we decided to turn back to the parish. It was the short flashes of lightning that revealed the contours of the island mountains and showed us the way home. Though wet and cold, we arrived safely.
This experience reminds us of life’s journey. We often face storms — trials, anxieties, and uncertainties. Yet, just as lightning gave us direction, moments of grace illuminate our path. These flashes come through people, events, or encounters with God that renew us and strengthen our faith.
Jesus tells His disciples: “In the world you will have trouble. But take courage; I have conquered the world” (John 16:33). This verse is both realistic and hopeful. Christ does not deny the reality of suffering; He acknowledges it. But He also assures us that suffering does not have the final word. His victory over sin and death through the cross and resurrection is our guarantee that storms will pass and that peace is possible.
The courage Jesus speaks of is not mere human bravery. It is rooted in trust — trust that He has already overcome the forces that threaten us. His Ascension confirms this victory: He now sits at the right hand of the Father, interceding for us, ensuring that nothing human is foreign to God.
As humans, we easily fall back into old ways. Anxiety and despair creep in when life does not go according to our plans. The lure of short-lived pleasures makes it difficult to remain renewed. Yet John 16:33 calls us to shift our focus: not on our strength, but on Christ’s triumph. St. Paul echoes this when he says: “In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Romans 8:37).
Like flashes of lightning guiding us through darkness, Christ’s words in John 16:33 remind us that He has already conquered the world. Our storms may be real, but His victory is greater. Let us take courage, trust in His presence, and allow His light to guide us safely home.
“Lord Jesus, in the storms of life, help me to take courage, trusting in Your victory, and to live renewed by Your grace.”
One comment