Have you ever had such a bad day that you felt you would never recover? Have you ever felt like it was time to throw in the towel, admit defeat, curl up in a corner and treat your wounds? The Prophet Elijah knows this feeling and he too wants to throw in the towel. He literally climbs the mountain and curls up in a ball waiting for death. His day started in triumph and victory. But when Jezebel threatened Elijah, she appeared more powerful than God. He ran as far as he could away from her and curled up under a broom bush, asking God to end his life. This can happen to us. One moment we could be flying high for the Lord, doing everything we can for Him, and then the next moment we could be wallowing in self-pity and depression over a negative comment someone said about us. I do not know about you; but it has happened to me many times.

What is the answer to this? It is a relationship with the Lord. When the Lord chose us to be His and called us to His purpose, He did not promise it would be smooth sailing from then on. Instead, He said in John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” He wants us to have peace even as we face the worse day in our lives. He wants to give us this peace even when the world is giving us troubles. He does this by strengthening us daily through a prayerful relationship with Him.

In the Gospel proclamation, the Lord Jesus tells us to take it one step further. He says in John 6:50, “But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which anyone may eat and not die.” Not only can we have a relationship with a living God, but He comes to live inside us through the Holy Eucharist. He comes inside us and becomes a part of us. John 6:51 says, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.” Through this union with Christ, we can slowly transform our thinking from the ways of the world to the ways of the Lord and live life in total peace, not just for one day or one week, but forever. We can live with the peace of the Lord everyday of our lives, no matter what the world throws at us, no matter what we feel or what our emotions are telling us. This is what the Lord Jesus wants to do in our lives today and forever.

Prayer: Abba Father, the trials I face do not have to bring me down because I can face anything with your peace. Thank you, Lord, for this great gift. Amen.