Today at Holy Mass, St Luke in his gospel wrote about the importance of acquiring the virtue of perseverance…We can NEVER give up…In season or out of season….Jesus opines on this idea in the Gospel…..”Jesus told his disciples a parable about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary”…Why does Jesus equate prayer with the ability to persevere?…Because he is fully aware of the shortcomings and failings of human nature….Prayer is the fuel, which enables the engine to move forward…..The same goes for Sacramental grace…Without these things in our life, we grow as St Luke puts it “weary”……
Daily prayer is vital - So are the Sacraments….Jesus also says something today in the Gospel, which caught my eye as well…….”But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”……..We must believe in Christ like a blind man groping in the dark…Trusting in him - Not ourselves….In the face of failure, hardship and frustration - No matter - Trust in the plan - Trust in the man!……………
Today the Universal Church commemorates the life of a great man - He was so great he is remembered as such - St Albert the Great, who is the patron saint of scientists…St Albert was brilliant but he too knew the need to acquire the virtue of perseverance…This is what he had to say about the subject….”A sure sign of true perseverance is when a person will not deliberately depart from what he knows to be right in the face of any adversity, trial or temptation - neither love of life, nor fear of death, nor threats, nor promises will be able to deter him from his holy resolve”…..This is coming from a BRILLIANT man, who had every right to trust in himself alone - But St Albert too understand human nature - That is why “ST” is to this day in-front of his name…….St Albert continued….”O Jesus, make me constant and faithful to your law and teach me perseverance to stand firm evermore. And let my heart not waver from your light: grant holy perseverance in all that’s just and right"…….AMEN!
“God has called us through the Gospel, to possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ”
When Jesus died and rose from the died, his 12 friends at the time thought he would return very soon….Fast forward 2000 years later and here we are - He has not come back yet….I am sure during many of the trials, hardships, wars and catastrophic events that have happened over those 2000 years in the world many people have thought to themself - The time for the return of Christ is soon…The point I am trying to make is - No one knows - But we know this…Jesus is God…Jesus founded a Church….The Church is an extension of Christ….We are the vine - He is the branch…..And in the meantime - God is at work - Preparing the earth for his son’s return - Its not for us to know…Or even speculate…Its for us to DO and persevere until the end!…..A very holy nun once asked me to build an altar for the children she was teaching in grammar school….I told Sister Eva...…”I would think about it”….Sister told me something I will never forget…..”Joe - Do not “think” - Pray and DO”!…….Now, those reading this refection should not assume the Catholic Church does not advocate for thinking people - St Albert, the great scientist, who we commemorate today at Mass should address that false claim by his very life, which was immersed in scientific thought….There was a larger point Sister Eva was making to me…..We do not know the “big picture”…God does….Its our job to pray daily - To stay grafted to the vine - Allowing God to form us, so we can then be his instruments in the world…Don’t worry about the outcomes - That is not our concern - God will handle that!…Don't over think it......Our job is simply to pray and do…To persevere until the whistle blows!
“For all creation, in its several kinds, was being made over anew, serving its natural laws, that your children might be preserved unharmed”
Today in the Gospel at Mass, the theme of perseverance is brought to our attention…How easy it is to give up, especially when we get disappointed, do not see the outcomes we count on, or frankly see no humanly hope in sight…..There lies the mistake - Keep your eyes off the “storm” - And place them solely upon Christ…… ”During the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them, walking on the sea. When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. “It is a ghost,” they said, and they cried out in fear. At once Jesus spoke to them, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” Peter said to him in reply, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw how strong the wind was he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” After they got into the boat, the wind died down. Those who were in the boat did him homage, saying, “Truly, you are the Son of God.”………St Albert the Great weighs in once again….”Without perseverance nothing will be brought to completion or perfection”…..So what are we supposed to do?………..Simple - Pray and Do……………………..JMJ
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