Trusting Jesus – the benefit for our life.

It is a wonderfully good feeling when a person is in trouble, when hopelessness, fear, and even despair begin to grip him, and he can lean on someone beside him. It is beautiful when it gives him hope and infuses him with strength when he hears the necessary words from his mouth: “Hope!”

The words of Jesus are a great strength to the person who believes, and we can feel this in the Gospel when Jesus says to the apostles, “In the world you have tribulation, but hope, I have overcome the world!” (Jn 16:33).

Jesus gave many explanations only to the apostles. In this way, he was preparing them so that they would go out into the world and administer his teachings to others one day. He explained many things to the apostles, and although they did not immediately understand them, they nevertheless noted that He was speaking to them not only in parables, that is, in examples from life that were familiar to them, for example, the good shepherd, the lost sheep, but He was also speaking to them. He told them about the relationship between himself and the Father, who had already decided to fulfill here on earth. He also told them about the suffering that awaits him and his departure from this world. The apostles could see that Jesus could see into their hearts. For example, he did not need to question what they had talked about on the way. He is, after all, the all-knowing God. Even today, in the Gospel, they say to Jesus: “Now we know that you know all things, and do not need anyone to question you” (Jn 16:30).
Gradually, the apostles reflected on what Jesus was teaching them, dissecting everything that was happening around Jesus. And so, they were able to conclude that Jesus had indeed gone forth from the Father and would return to the Father again. When Jesus asked Peter, “Who do you say I am?” Peter replied: “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God” (Matt. 16:15-16). This was Peter’s cooperation with the Holy Spirit, through whom God the Father revealed this to him. Thus, there is a progressive faith in the apostles. But this faith of theirs is not yet final. We know that they have believed in Christ, and when the test comes upon them, they will fail. Peter will deny it, and the others will scatter.

When we look at it with human eyes, we say this is not unusual. After all, something similar has happened or can happen to us. Let’s not be too sure. We may think that we are good and that nothing can happen to us to make us betray Jesus, for we have the experience, the age, the position, and so we will not sin again, and it may not be long before our pride is heard – and the fall follows. Today, we are to realize that only God is faithful!

The Lord Jesus knows us better than we can know ourselves because He created man. The Lord Jesus knew of our weaknesses, but He also knew that man would betray Him, abandon Him, deny Him. And yet, God will remain faithful. In the Gospel, he offers us his love so that we may hope in him.
He stands by us. He is always ready to intervene, help, protect us, and comfort us, true when there is goodwill on our part. In other words, when we believe in Jesus and strive to live in his sign, we will overcome the world. Jesus triumphed over sin in a short-lived defeat when people thought his death on the cross was the end of all things. That was Jesus’ victory, the victory of God over the whole world. His death over all evil and sin in history.
And this is what strengthens us to hope in Christ. So that our lives never go down such a dead end in life that we think He can’t help us, can’t help us, and we don’t even want Him to help us anymore…

And yet, today, the words that we joyfully accept ring out clearly. I hope in you, Lord! We hope that He will triumph over our sin. He forgives us and returns us his friendship, his love. He loves us more than we love Him, and yet today, He wants to reinstate our resolve. It is a beautiful feeling to live in peace with God.

Thank you, Lord, for your encouragement. You have strengthened us, Lord, that when we find ourselves in despair, when fear fills us, we have nothing to fear, for you are with us. We can lean on you and overcome when we fall and feel defeated. For all of this, let God be praised today.