I pray that all of you are enjoying this Easter Season and preparing to receive the Holy Spirit on Pentecost. With all the different stories of Jesus appearing to the apostles and those close to him I couldn’t help but wonder, “what was going on in their minds?” Anxiety can stop us from many things and for some, conquering that fear is a challenge.
This scenario reminded me of one of my favorite story books, a Russian folk tale, Vasalisa and her Magic Doll, by Rita Grauer. The story is about a young girl, Vasalisa, who lost her mom when she was young. To make matters more difficult, Vasalisa then had to grow up with her sister who was very jealous of her. However, before Vasalisa's mother passed away, she gave her a small magical doll. As Vasalisa engages each challenge in her life, she touches the doll who encourages her by saying, “Do what lies before you and all will be well.”
Although the challenges that we face are nothing like the ones that Vasalisa faced on her journey to receive the “light,” they are real. Some of us take care of elderly parents from afar, while others long to visit family members who live far away. How do we handle these difficulties? “Do what lies before you and all will be well.”
What about those who have lost their jobs and are worried about how to take care of their family? What about those whose businesses have closed and those who are not sure when things will change if they have a job? “Do what lies before you and all will be well.”
“Do what lies before you and all will be well.” What does that mean? For me, it means that I need to focus on what is before me, be present to the moment, and do what I can at that moment with the time, energy, and wisdom I have. It is taking the “what ifs” out of my vocabulary. If we can stay focused and take one step at a time, it is easier to remain at peace. This is what Jesus gives us. Anxiety can have some awful side effects like unkind words or actions, negative behavior, and sarcasm, to name a few.
As we prepare to celebrate the feasts of the Ascension and Pentecost, I believe that Jesus left the Apostles the same message: “Do what lies before you and all will be well.” Their task was an enormous one. They had to take one day at a time and believe that the gift of the Holy Spirit was on the way. They didn’t know the day or the hour, but they could trust that Jesus would fulfill His promise and send the Advocate. Like them, we need to BREATHE and ask the Holy Spirit to help us remember: “Do what lies before you and all will be well.” We need to trust that the Spirit is with us, and we need to continue to pray for the strength the Spirit offers us. Doing what lies before us means that we need to give up controlling our lives. That is a big task, but like Vasalisa, we will find “the light” and bring it to those we are with as long as we continue to “do what lies before you and all will be well.”
Till next week, continue preparing for the gift of the Spirit,
Sister Theresita
