Don’t we all just love it when “a great plan comes together”?

Well, Jesus’ plan in today’s gospel is to send the disciples out to evangelize. But there will be opposition; so, they plan to use divine inspiration and practical discernment to overcome these hostilities.

On the surface, it seems pretty clear, but not very easy. With little more instruction than to have courage, faith, and “endurance to the end”, these good souls evangelized in the face of an opposition that we can’t imagine.

How blessed are we, though, to have St Peter Julian Eymard instruct us with a more detailed plan than those first disciples received. He is the “Apostle of the Eucharist”. That is more than a title. He is the ultimate evangelist. Saint Peter Julian consistently teaches that the oppositions of this life can only be met with divine strength.

He advocated that radical self-surrender to the divine will is required. One must confide every burden directly to Christ, rather than rely on one’s human nature. Radical surrender sounds like a very complicated task, but the actions required of us are actually quite simple. Literally, just follow the example of Christ.

Christ completely surrendered himself in the Blessed Sacrament. Therefore, we must go where he is. When we surrender, join him there, frequently receive Holy Eucharist, and spend quiet time in Adoration, we partake of his supernatural gifts and are strengthened to face adversity. It is not a whimsical plan; it is a real place; it is our home, where he shares everything we need with us. When we are home with Christ, all things are possible.

Surrender by meeting him there. This is not how “a great plan comes together”, but rather, how “HIS great plan comes together”, where evangelization is natural and becomes a blessing, not a chore.

Are you part of that plan?

Let Us Pray:

Father, please include me in your plan.