November 7, 2018 Wednesday of the 31st Week in Ordinary Time-B

Philippians 2:12-18

Psalm 27

Luke 14:25-33

I rejoice and share my joy with all of you… Phil. 2:17

The Lord is my light and my salvation… Ps. 27:1

Lord, your beloved Apostle Paul is writing to his friends in Philippi while in a Roman prison.  How can he rejoice and have joy in his suffering and confinement?  He was a man who courageously and heroically proclaimed your good news to many nations.  Now he was in danger of being executed for his holy service of you.  Yet, even in suffering, he looked to the big picture.  This Psalm may have been his consolation in the darkness and loneliness of his day.  He knew of the fruit of his work among the Greeks that brought so many to faith in you.  He trusted that you were guiding and inspiring him every day of his life.  May I, dear Jesus, not let my sufferings take away my joy in your love.  May any difficulty, pain or fear turn me away from rejoicing that I will “see the bounty of the Lord in the land of the living.”  Whatever prison I find myself in I am confident in your grace and can rejoice that you will never leave me.   You are my joy Lord.  You are “my life’s refuge; of whom should I be afraid.”   Amen