Personal misfortunes, disasters and tragedies can stop us in our tracks, turn our lives upside down and make us wonder where to go or who to turn to.
This happens to people every day. We read and hear the news reports of the latest mass shooting, homicide, or a horrific air, boat or vehicle crash. Then there are the wildfires, hurricanes, floods, earthquakes and other disasters, as well as all those hurting in war-torn countries.
Catastrophes either soften or harden our hearts, and they can change our thinking patterns for better or worse.
Eric Clapton, the Grammy Award-winning guitarist, overcame drug addiction but continued to struggle with alcoholism during his successful solo years in the 1970’s. He admitted that he hit rock bottom in 1987 and entered rehab. Following rehab, he wrote that he “surrendered to God” and his life eventually came together again:
“In the privacy of my room, I begged for help. I had no notion who I thought I was talking to; I just knew that I had come to the end of my tether … and, getting down on my knees, I surrendered. Within a few days, I realized that … I had found a place to turn to, a place I’d always known was there but never really wanted, or needed, to believe in. From that day until this, I have never failed to pray in the morning, on my knees, asking for help, and at night, to express gratitude for my life and, most of all, for my sobriety. I choose to kneel because I feel I need to humble myself when I pray, and with my ego, this is the most I can do. If you are asking why I do all this, I will tell you … because it works, as simple as that.”
His son Conor was born in 1987. Four years later, tragedy struck. Conor fell from a 53rd floor apartment window and died.
Eric Clapton took nine months off, and when he returned to work, his music had changed. The death of his son made his music softer and more reflective. The song Tears in Heaven, written about Conor’s death, is a tender tribute.
Eric Clapton credits his faith in God and his desire to honor the memory of his son as giving him the will to keep him going, rather than falling back into drugs and alcohol.
Today’s gospel opens with these words: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me.”
That seems impossible, doesn’t it? “Do not let your hearts be troubled.” Getting rid of worries can feel unrealistic. Yet it is possible if we have true faith in God.
Chapter 14 of the Gospel of John is a continuation of The Last Supper, which begins in John chapter 13. Envision yourself at that famous “restaurant” called the Upper Room.
In the Bible, the upper room was usually a roof chamber built above the main house for leisure and privacy. The Upper Room is best known as the setting for the Last Supper. The intimacy Jesus shared with His apostles during this meal suggests that this space was meant for deep conversation and trust.
Jesus honored the apostles by washing their feet. He predicted the betrayal of Judas. He warned Peter of his upcoming denials. He told them that He would be put to death. And yet, He left them with this incredible message of hope:
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me.”
Hear Jesus speaking these words directly to you, almost like a personal trainer encouraging you:
“Do not, I say again to you, do not, let your heart be troubled. Believe!”
Jesus then coaches you and me by asking: “Do you trust me enough to surrender that one major problem in your life, the one that troubles your heart the most? If so, give it to me now. I will replace your troubled heart with a peaceful heart.”
It is not easy to totally trust the Lord. Unfortunately, we often prefer to hold on to what we know rather than exchange it for the unknown.
Our Christian Catholic faith is founded on trust in the Lord. Most of us first learn unconditional trust from our parents. They encourage us to smile, sleep, eat, walk and talk. Later, they encourage us to learn and study. Not just math and history, but also our faith, so we can live and defend what we believe.
For many of us, our formal faith education stopped after First Communion or Confirmation. Yet it is vital to continue learning so that we can deepen our relationship with Jesus through ongoing study and reflection.
The dinner conversation that Jesus had with His apostles at the Last Supper is remarkable. John’s Gospel, which contains 21 chapters, devotes chapters 14, 15, 16, and 17 to Jesus’ desire that we live free from excessive worry and recognize how precious we are in the eyes of the Lord.
Take some time this week to read these chapters of John’s Gospel and reflect on the message Jesus is speaking to you.
Do not let your heart be troubled and know there are no tears in heaven.
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