Making Connections

The story about Wally reflects this theme. Wally was a small dog, but he had a big friend and that gave him the courage to be himself and do what he needed to do. Likewise the disciples were fractured in their thoughts, they lacked cohesiveness as a group. The spirit of Christ brought them back together and focused their thoughts on their mission, their purpose in the world.

Think about the challenges you may have faced, especially those ones which required you to find resources that seemed beyond yourself. Think about the times when you may have wondered, “am I enough? Will my small voice be heard?” Christ spirit continues to be with all of us, just as it was with the disciples in the Gospel reading. Christ can help us focus our fractured thoughts, and grant us strength and courage in the struggle with the challenges we face. Even our doubts and questions, if we are honest about them and seek to find solutions, are actually departures into a deeper faith, more profound relationships. Knowing this, many years after that first Easter, St. Paul still writes, “I can do all things through him [Jesus Christ] who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)*. The living Christ in our lives, as a guide and source of peace and strength, makes it possible for our voices to be heard and to make a difference in our lives, in the lives of those around us and creation.*