TODAY’S GOSPEL READING – 21 MARCH
March 21, 2026
FIFTH SUNDAY IN LENT: WEEPING
March 22, 2026
SILENCE REVEALS GOD’S VOICE
“Be still, and know that I am God.”
— Psalm 46:10
St. Nicholas of Flüe withdrew from the noise of society into a life of deep solitude in the Ranft valley. There, in silence, he listened attentively to God and grew in profound spiritual wisdom. People from far and wide came to seek his counsel, drawn by the clarity that flowed from his interior stillness.
Interior silence opens the heart to hear God more clearly.
DETACHMENT LEADS TO FREEDOM
“Everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for My sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life.”
— Matthew 19:29
After years as a husband, father, and respected citizen, Nicholas discerned God’s call to leave everything behind with the consent of his wife. He embraced a life of radical simplicity, depending entirely on God, and even lived for years sustained only by the Eucharist.
True freedom is found when we release everything that hinders our complete surrender to God.
PRAYER HAS REAL-WORLD IMPACT
“The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”
— James 5:16
Though he lived hidden from the world, Nicholas became a trusted spiritual guide whose counsel helped prevent civil war in Switzerland. His life of prayer radiated outward, influencing leaders and bringing reconciliation during times of conflict.
Contemplation is not an escape from the world but a powerful force that transforms it.
DISCERNMENT REQUIRES SACRIFICE
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”
— Proverbs 3:5
Nicholas did not act impulsively in leaving his family; he spent years in prayer and discernment. Only after deep reflection and mutual agreement did he follow God’s call. His sacrifice was marked by trust, obedience, and courage.
God’s call often asks for surrender, but it always leads to deeper grace.
PEACE BEGINS WITHIN
“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you.”
— John 14:27
Having found deep peace in God through prayer and solitude, Nicholas became an instrument of peace for others. His inner harmony enabled him to guide nations toward unity and reconciliation.
When the heart rests in God, it becomes a source of peace for the world.
PRAYER THROUGH THE INTERCESSION OF ST. NICHOLAS OF FLÜE
O God of peace and stillness,
You called St. Nicholas of Flüe
from the duties of the world
into the silence of Your presence.
Through his intercession,
teach us to listen for Your voice
amid the noise of our lives.
Grant peace to our hearts,
wisdom to our leaders,
and unity to our communities.
Help us to trust You deeply
and to seek Your will above all things.
May the example of St. Nicholas
guide us to become instruments of peace.
Through Christ our Lord.
Amen
