Times of change and transition can be tricky. Some changes are highly anticipated, like the first day of university or the weeks leading up to your 10th birthday (double digits!). Others are met with more hesitation, anxiety, or fear. Perhaps you’ve experienced the pain of losing a job, a difficult diagnosis, or the desire to continue turning 27 any number of years after you’ve actually turned 27. Change is one of the most certain things in life and yet we struggle with how to handle it.
In today’s Gospel, the apostles were facing an incredible change. Jesus, who had been with them for a mere 40 days after his death and resurrection, was leaving them. They were only just grasping the enormity of the mission Jesus was equipping them for. From the Acts of the Apostles, we know they were fearful of what could possibly happen to them. But in Luke’s account of their actions immediately following the Ascension, they weren’t only fearful. In spite of the oncoming change, they were also full of “great joy.” No matter the change we are facing, we can learn from the Apostles the kind of attitude we ought to have toward the new situation.
First, we have to trust in God’s plan for our life. Jesus told the Apostles that they were witnesses to everything He had done and were responsible for sharing the Good News with others. He also promised that He would send the blessing of the Father, the Holy Spirit, to be with them always. We receive this same commission and the same promise. Throughout life’s changes, there is always Good News to share. No matter what transition is beyond our control, the Holy Spirit is with us.
In light of these two facts, we can rejoice and be full of joy like the Apostles. This joy isn’t something we should keep to ourselves. The Apostles went to the temple where they continually offered praise to God. When we don’t know what to do and we don’t know what’s coming next, one action we can take with certainty is praise. The first part of the Our Father is a statement of praise.
When we praise God, we acknowledge his position in our lives. He is our Creator, our Father, Love itself. He is the Author of all things and the Maker of existence. Nothing is outside of His authority and nothing is beyond His notice. He knows what we are going through and He knows what is coming next. When we offer praise, like the Apostles, we have the opportunity to offer to God our fears and uncertainties. We open ourselves to God’s majesty and give Him the space to fill us with His joy and peace.
Los tiempos de cambio y transición pueden ser complicados. Algunos cambios son muy esperados, como el primer día de universidad o las semanas previas a tu décimo cumpleaños (¡dos dígitos!). Otros se reciben con más vacilación, ansiedad o miedo. Tal vez hayas experimentado el dolor de perder un trabajo, un diagnóstico difícil o el deseo de seguir cumpliendo 27 años cualquier cantidad de años después de haberos cumplido. El cambio es una de las cosas más seguras de la vida y, sin embargo, luchamos por saber cómo manejarlo.
En el Evangelio de hoy, los apóstoles se enfrentan a un cambio increíble. Jesús, que había estado con ellos durante apenas 40 días después de su muerte y resurrección, los estaba dejando. Apenas estaban comprendiendo la enormidad de la misión para la que Jesús los estaba equipando. Por los Hechos de los Apóstoles, sabemos que tenían miedo de lo que podría pasar. Pero en el relato de Lucas sobre sus acciones inmediatamente después de la Ascensión, no solo tenían miedo. A pesar del cambio que se estaba por venir, también estaban llenos de “gran gozo”. No importa el cambio que estemos enfrentando, podemos aprender de los Apóstoles el tipo de actitud que debemos tener hacia la nueva situación.
Primero, tenemos que confiar en el plan de Dios para nuestra vida. Jesús les dijo a los Apóstoles que eran testigos de todo lo que Él había hecho y eran responsables de compartir la Buena Nueva con los demás. También les prometió que les enviaría la bendición del Padre, el Espíritu Santo, para que estuviera siempre con ellos. Nosotros recibimos esta misma comisión y la misma promesa. A lo largo de los cambios de la vida, siempre hay una Buena Nueva para compartir. No importa qué transición esté fuera de nuestro control, el Espíritu Santo está con nosotros.
A la luz de estos dos hechos, podemos regocijarnos y estar llenos de gozo como los Apóstoles. Este gozo no es algo que debemos guardar para nosotros mismos. Los Apóstoles fueron al templo donde continuamente ofrecieron alabanzas a Dios. Cuando no sabemos qué hacer y no sabemos qué viene después, una acción que podemos tomar con certeza es la alabanza. La primera parte del Padrenuestro es una declaración de alabanza.
Cuando alabamos a Dios, reconocemos su lugar en nuestras vidas. Es nuestro Creador, nuestro Padre, el Amor mismo. Él es el Autor de todas las cosas y el Hacedor de la existencia. Nada está fuera de su autoridad y nada escapa a su conocimiento. Sabe por lo que estamos pasando y sabe lo que viene después. Cuando ofrecemos alabanza, como los Apóstoles, tenemos la oportunidad de ofrecer a Dios nuestros miedos e incertidumbres. Nos abrimos a la majestad de Dios y le damos el espacio para que nos llene de su alegría y su paz.
Kate Taliaferro is an Air Force wife and mother. She is blessed to be able to homeschool, bake bread and fold endless piles of laundry. When not planning a school day, writing a blog post or cooking pasta, Kate can be found curled up with a book or working with some kind of fiber craft. Kate blogs at DailyGraces.net.
Feature Image Credit: Brett Sayles, www.pexels.com/photo/glory-to-god-book-3633711/
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