My Father dealt with my fears today. Matthew 6: 25ff touched on my economic uncertainties, and my Father confirmed that He would provide for me, so I have no need to worry. Psalms 63 spoke consolation addressed to another fear. I have a friend, a very lonely, sad man who had become bound up in bitterness and hate. He has threatened, in quite gruesome terms, to kill several of our mutual friends in revenge for petty "wrongs" they have supposedly done to him. Of our circle of acquaintances, I'm the only one who will have anything to do with him. The rest are terrified of him. In truth, he frightens me, too, yet my Father had led me to write to him of gentleness and of His love. After a while, the man asked me not to write to him any more. It was too much for him, he said. All I could do then was to put him in God's hands. Recently, though, my Father led me to send him a Mass card, and I did. I've been a bit afraid, though, that hearing from me would set him off. Today's psalm spoke to me of protection, for myself and for the people who have been threatened by him.

I turned to John 10 then. My Father was trying to speak to me about the relationship I have with Jesus as my Brother through this. A cold I've been fighting was beginning to get the best of me, though, and I was becoming distracted. I tried to relax more and pay attention. But, I over-relaxed, and fell asleep, instead. A fine way to show my gratitude for the comfort I had received!

Later in the evening, I felt more alert, and very troubled by my earlier inattention. I admitted my weakness to my Father, and asked His forgiveness. How patient He is with me! I turned to John 10, and lingered over verse 15. Jesus seemed very close, and He encouraged me to offer the discomfort of my cold to our Father for my friend in union with His suffering on the Cross. He spoke to me of the brotherhood of such a sharing, and it was true. As I gave my headache to our Father, I did feel much closer to Jesus and understood a bit more of His great love for us. With this brotherhood established I feel ready to more on to the next section.