THE CONSOLATION OF THANKING GOD IN ALL THINGS
Brothers and sisters,
May the Lord give you His peace!
Guided by a text of Saint Paul the Apostle and from the Church Father Saint John Chrysostom, we offer you this point for meditation to prepar us for our "Hora Sancta". First of all, it is a desire to give thanks, at every moment and circumstance of life, to God the Father, through His divine Son Jesus Christ and in the communion of the Holy Spirit.
"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Phil 4 : 4-7).
"It is comforting to know that the Lord is near... This is the remedy to alleviate distress and every adverse circumstance and every pain. What does this consist of? Praying and giving thanks in all things. He does not want prayer to be merely a request, but an act of gratitude for what we have received... How can one make a request for the future without the grateful acknowledgement of the past?... Therefore, it is necessary to be grateful for everything, even for the thing that seems painful. This is the mark of someone who is truly grateful. Sadness is born from the circumstances with the demands they place upon us. Thanksgiving comes from a soul that has true clarity and a deep love for God" (Homily on Philippians 15.4.4-7.1)
The joy in the Lord, brothers and sisters, is unshakable and it stems from the profound communion with Christ, regardless of the earthly suffering. Prayer, supplication and thanksgiving are the weapons of the believer for dispelling fear and daily worries. Let us remember that the peace of God is not merely the absence of problems, but a supernatural grace that protects the mind and the heart, and it is a peace that human reason cannot attain on its own. Believing in the immediate coming of the Lord and comforted by his nearness, when we are in his presence, let us give thanks to God in everything.
May the Lord bless your from his Holy Garden!
