God's Work Cannot Be Destroyed

In today's first reading, Exodus 1: 8-14, 22, the Egyptian authorities execute a decree to oppress the Israelites, their slaves,as their population is increasing, afraid that,in times of war with other nations, the Israelites will join Egypt's enemies and turn against them and  also leave the country.  "Let us deal shrewdly with them to stop their increase....Yet the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied."

So, too, with Christianity!  God's work cannot be destroyed. The work of the Holy Spirit is unstoppable, then and now!

No matter how the cross appears--outside oppression, internal turmoil, ill health, failure of some sort or whatever-- whatever suffering you and I endure in faith and in trusting the Lord, our faith will deepen and our love grow stronger and more extensive. Suffering endured in faith will yield fruit that will last into eternity!

In Jesus' suffering, Jesus never lost sight of His Father's delight and love of Him and of us.  May you and I, likewise in our sufferings, not lose sight of God's delight in us,  His love for us, and His nearness, giving us the strength we need to grow in faith and trust of the Lord!  May we look to God for help to realize how much we depend upon God to grow in faith and love especially during times of trial, turbulence, and pain!





 

Facing Hardship when Making a Life Choice or any Choice that is Right for You

Like Jesus, Paul, in the liturgy’s first reading, Acts 20: 17-27, is looking back on his life as well and is about to go to Jerusalem, where, like Jesus, he faces hardships and imprisonment." He says to us: "I consider life of no importance to me, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to bear witness to the Gospel of God's grace.”

You, like  Paul and Jesus, have been given a task to do here on earth within a vocational call:  married,  single, a member of a religious community or as a diocesan priest.  Both Paul and Jesus were called to do the work the Father gave Him to do as single persons. Most of the apostles were given a work to do as married men but also as apostles.  In which vocation is God calling you "to bear witness to the Gospel of God's grace"? 

Both Paul and Jesus learned obedience from what they suffered (cf. Hebrews 5:8). Like Paul and Jesus, as we bring our wills into harmony with God’s will for us, as we give glory to God by  the Gospel values we embrace,  we will meet hardship, be mocked and ridiculed. We will, from time to time, be rejected on account of our beliefs, our choices, or confidence in what the Lord God, what Christ Jesus, is asking of us through the Spirit.  Some persons  are likely not to understand our choices and may object loudly while others may be supportive. 

When you are ridiculed, made fun of, questioned  about the vocation in life that is right for you, the partner in life that is right for you,  the religious community that is right for you; yes, the career choice that is right for you,  do you run away from that choice so as not to rock the boat, to avoid suffering?