Today's Readings

Let's look at the jailer in the first reading today. Imagine his feelings when he awakened and saw all the jail cell doors opened. Immediate reaction? "I'm in serious trouble." He assumed the prisoners were gone. But, to his surprise they were still in their cells. Notice how the fear took over.

How about ourselves? Are the moments in our lives when fears take over? Fears that make it impossible to fully relate to a loving and forgiving God? Are there fears that make conversation with God difficult or impossible?

Often times these fears are raised by a failure to trust God fully. Consider those who have not used the healing Sacrament of Reconciliation because of fear? Because of embarrassment? The refrain in the Psalm is helpful: "Your right hand save me, O Lord." There it is again. In the 138 Psalm we read "When I called, you answered me; you built up strength within me."

So, the message today might well be as simple as "Do not not fear." How often Pope John Paul II delivered that message to us. Do not be afraid ... set out into the deep was his message to the disciples. It is that same message to us each day.