Only if we pray without ceasing will we persevere

Today at Holy Mass we hear in the Gospel of St Mark how Jesus called his first disciples…These men were “nothing special” as defined by the world…But clearly Jesus saw beyond appearances….He saw the human heart….He saw what they would become and there willingness to become what God created them to be…..That is why they were chosen……”As he passed by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea; they were fishermen. Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Then they left their nets and followed him. He walked along a little farther and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They too were in a boat mending their nets. Then he called them. So they left their father Zebedee in the boat along with the hired men and followed him”….One could read this passage from St Mark and think…….”How could these working men give up everything and follow Christ”……That sounds hard…But in actuality, it was only the beginning….As we all know, as Jesus preached and taught his people, the powerful of his society wanted to kill him….How much harder was it for his disciples to keep following him when times got rough - And they got very rough!…..This should be a reminder to us….Our conversion to Christ is on going…There are many layers to it and Jesus with each layer draws us deeper into himself…..In the beginning of a person’s conversion, everything is new and exciting…But as time goes on and life with its demands push us, we must deepen our commitment to Christ, relying on grace, prayer and the Sacraments…As Catholics, we are called to know the Truth - Speak the Truth - Live the truth - And suffer for the Truth…We are to do this in season and out of season…When its convenient and inconvenient………And with each YES we give to God and as we cooperate with his Holy will, we progress in the process of sanctification, which is a slow and daily grind……Each of us have “caverns” within us that we are not aware of and God reveals the depths of those caverns to us as we mature in our Catholic faith….The process of becoming a holy people is just that - A process…With each YES - With each trial - With each step…We become the people we were born to be ………So - “Keep stepping” - And Keep saying “YES”!

“The Kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the Gospel”

As Catholics its vital that we pray continuously for the grace of perseverance……God plays the “long game” but frankly so does the devil…It can be very easy to commit to God when times are good - But what happens when sacrifices are put before you?….When the crowd turns against you?…..When you are excluded?….When you are mocked?…..Its at those times we must pray all the more…Trusting like a “blind man” that God’s grace will be sufficient….Because its in those moments that its very easy to give up and trust me - Those moment will come…..The devil is fully aware of all our weaknesses and each and every person has them……This is why we must live a Sacramental life, pray daily and fast weekly…The minute you think you can live as a Catholic, grounded in your own gifts and strength is the minute that the devil knows he has you!…..St Paul tells us…..“My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me. Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong”…..This idea defies our American sensibilities of rugged individualism…This idea must be shed and we must abandon ourselves fully into the hands of God….We hesitate to do this because we believe “we” can do it on our own….Get this through your head - “We” can do NOTHING without God’s grace!…And if we want to persevere in our Catholic faith, we must not trust in our self but in God’s grace alone…..Jesus tells the world….”I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily. But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”……….Pray and fast for perseverance!…….”For if these things are done when the wood is green what will happen when it is dry?”

“O LORD, I am your servant; I am your servant, the son of your handmaid; you have loosed my bonds.”

Today at Mass, St Mark tells us how Jesus chose his first disciples….The word disciple means “follower”…..And when you get right down to it…Jesus is not looking for “believers” - He is looking for “followers”….He is looking for people who will live their lives in and through their Catholic faith…Do we view every aspect of out life through our Catholic faith? - Because this is the “kind of person” Jesus is looking for….And in order to do that, we must rely on God’s grace…If you “think” you are going to “stand tall” as a Catholic in this pagan world without utilizing the Sacraments, daily prayer and weekly fasting - You have another thing coming! - You will “fold like a cheap suit”! - The world will eat you alive!…However - As St Paul instructs us…..”For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens. Therefore, put on the armor of God, that you may be able to resist on the evil day and, having done everything, to hold your ground. So stand fast with your loins girded in truth, clothed with righteousness as a breastplate, and your feet shod in readiness for the gospel of peace”….Only then we you persevere and withstand the “storm”…..Our “YES” must be made everyday to God - And with each “YES” - God draws us deeper…..When we pray the only prayer Jesus gave to us - The Our Father - And we say with our lips…”Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven” - Do we realize fully what we are saying?”…….When the son of man returns - Will he find faith on earth?…..Only if we pray without ceasing will we persevere………………JMJ