Use the following meditation to help you reflect more deeply on the Scripture (you may want to read the passage again).

I have felt more and more the providential care of the Lord over the past few weeks, specifically in the lectionary readings. It could be that we are all in need of some hope in the midst of our present times, so we are finding it anywhere and everywhere, but I like to trust that the Lord is doing something specific to strengthen our weak knees. It’s no wonder that the words of the prophets in the time of Israel are speaking so poignantly to us as a Church—though we may not be in a physical exile like Israel was, we are experiencing a similar type of exile. Not being able to leave our homes to do all of the things we want to, limited time with our friends and loved ones, the concerns and anxieties about going back to school and to work, and especially not being able to get to Mass still—it is all a type of modern exile we are enduring as a Church. I have found a new love and understanding for Israel and for the words of the prophets, such as Jeremiah in today’s first reading, and a new appreciation for what a time of hopeful waiting can look like for each of us.

Israel was constantly being told that the Lord has not forsaken them, that his love and mercy continue even in the midst of their tribulation. They hear that there will be a time when the Lord will come back to them and draw them once more home to Jerusalem and their ancestral home. But in the midst of darkness, a far of spark can only illumine so much on the path of hope. It’s easy for us to say, “When everything is normal again...,” but with each week and month that passes, we begin to feel more hopeless about when that day will come. For many of us life has taken it has toll on our physical health, or emotional wellbeing, our relationships and connections to people, and on our spiritual lives. We are so disconnected and discouraged, and the hope for what has been promised to us, a time of joy and feasting, of peace and dancing with the Lord, is waning. It is in this struggle that the prophets have been speaking to my heart with so much more weight.
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It is okay to feel discouraged and to struggle with hope—you are experiencing something that has been experienced before. The hope we need can be trusted in because we see the promises that the Lord makes through Jeremiah come to be. God keeps his promises! And if he came to help his firstborn, Israel, how much more can we rest assured that he will come to help us, his adopted sons and daughters? The Lord will make straight the path out of this present darkness and the far-off spark will become a blazing fire to illumine a future of hope. There’s a struggle in the waiting, but if we have hope, we will be able to rest in the Lord more easily. “A day will come when the watchmen will call out on Mount Ephraim: ‘Rise up, let us go to Zion, to the Lord, our God.’ The Lord has delivered his people…”

These questions are to be used to talk to God; have a conversation with the Lord about these questions and what is going on in your heart as you pray today.
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Where do I feel forsaken, disconnected, or discouraged?

Where am I finding hope?

What is God speaking to my heart in the midst of the present struggles of life?

In this step, you listen. Stop talking, let God speak to your heart. You may repeat one of these short phrases to focus your mind on the Lord.
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"Deliver us, Lord."

"Help me find hope."

​"You are the light in the darkness."

In light of today's reading and your time spent in prayer with the Lord, what concrete action or actions will you take to let this encounter with the Lord bear fruit in you today?
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Find a Bible verse, quote, picture, video, etc. that gives you hope today, and share it with someone else you know that is in need of hope right now.

Two years ago in Galilee, I was able to swim in that very water that Jesus walked on. While, I didn't try walking on it, I did spend time floating on my back, taking in the surroundings that would have been similar to what Jesus saw: the sky, the mountains, the trees, the towns. And I put myself in that Bible passage. If I was on that boat, would I have the courage to run to Jesus?

I would like to say yes. But if I am being honest, the answer is probably no. I am much like Peter. It is easy to start out bold, and the the doubt starts to creep in. I doubt myself, and more than that I doubt that Jesus will be there to catch me.

That day on the Sea of Galilee I had many fears: heartbreak, not serving the Lord, not leading others to Him, making mistakes and so many more. Today, I have new fears and many of the same. But the message the Lord spoke to me that day, is the same one He spoke to Peter, and the same one He speaks to us today. "Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

Why do I doubt? There are so many reasons, but they all pale in the light of Jesus. Jesus is there when we are scared. Jesus is there when we doubt. Jesus is bigger and stronger than all of our fears. We just need to call out to Him.

Do you have the courage to run to Jesus?

Why do you doubt the power of Jesus? How does your doubt limit you?

​Where can you ask Jesus to increase your faith?

"Lord I want to come to you."

"Lord I need you."

​"Increase my faith Lord."

Spend sometime imagining you are in a boat, and Jesus is calling out to you? Do you get out of the boat? Do you go to Him? 

The Lord truly provides and Divine providence is amazing. Today’s readings show how much the Lord provides for us. The first reading says, “all you who are thirsty, come to the water! You who have no money, come, receive grain and eat.” The psalm says, “the hand of the Lord feeds us; he answers all our needs.” The second reading says that nothing can separate us from the Love of Christ. This leads us to the Gospel.

Jesus has just heard of the death of his cousin St. John the Baptist. You can imagine how he must have been feeling. Now we know that Jesus is man and is like us in all things but sin. We know that he has the same feelings of hunger and thirst, sadness and joy. Jesus retreats to a quiet place by himself. But while he was trying to take some time alone all of the crowds followed him. Now, if this was me, I would be upset. I would not like it if a crowd of people came and interrupted my prayer time. But Jesus has compassion. He doesn’t lash out; he doesn’t get angry. He simply loves them. He teaches them and he shows this love. When he sees their hunger he has pity and asks if there was any food. The apostles said there were only five loaves of bread and two fish. There is no way that they could feed five thousand people with such little food. But Jesus took the loaves and fish and gave thanks for them. He blessed them and broke them and gave them to the disciples to give to the crowds. Every single one of them ate and was satisfied. When they gathered what was left there was abundantly more than they started with.

Jesus takes something so little and turns it into something so great. Jesus takes a moment of despair and turns it into hope. Jesus takes a moment of doubt and turns it into faith and trust. HE CAN PROVIDE. Jesus desires to provide us with what we need. We hear it over and over again in the Scriptures of today. Jesus will always give us what we need no matter where we are. No matter what we have. No matter what we give to him. Even the smallest things he can turn into an abundance. Today there is so much going on in every one of our lives. Just like Jesus in the Gospel, we have all lost something and are grieving those losses. Jesus understands what it’s like to love so much and then lose that thing or person that we love. Jesus understands us in our sadness and our pain.

Friends, every need we have, every pain and suffering, Jesus loves so intimately that he will enter into that pain and that desire; he will heal us and provide us with exactly what we need to be completely and totally satisfied.

When you are sad or upset, where do you turn?

When have you asked Jesus to provide for you? How has He?

Where have you asked Jesus to heal you?

"Jesus provides."

"Come to the Lord."

'Jesus satisfies."

Where in your life do you need Jesus? It can be big or small. Sit down today and tell Him everything.