17 May 2018
Thursday of the Seventh Week of Easter
In today’s first reading, Paul recounts how a vision of the Lord admonishes him to take courage. Paul was filled with the presence of the Risen Lord but this vision rested firmly on his knowledge of God’s revelation to the Jewish people. No doubt, he was familiar with the words of God to Moses in Deuteronomy (31:6): “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” The “them” in the passage refers to the Egyptians, a formidable enemy for the Jews exiled and ready to step out into an unknown life. Even after the Exodus, some murmured for the better life, albeit it was one of slavery and submission. Some patterns are comfortable and we have arranged our lives around them, but do they enslave or do they liberate? Today’s call to courage reminds us that getting up and making a change may be difficult and require courage, but God is with us as He was with Moses and Paul and the many saints who walked through some very dark times.