"ENDURE YOUR TRIALS"
Brothers and sisters,You have forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as children: my son, do not disdain the discipline of the Lord
or lose heart when reproved by him;for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines;he scourges every son he acknowledges.”
Endure your trials as “discipline”;
God treats you as sons.
For what “son” is there whom his father does not discipline?
At the time,all discipline seems a cause not for joy but for pain,
yet later it brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness
to those who are trained by it.
So strengthen your drooping hands and your weak knees.
Make straight paths for your feet,
that what is lame may not be disjointed but healed.
(Hebrews 12: 5-7, 11-13)or lose heart when reproved by him;for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines;he scourges every son he acknowledges.”
Endure your trials as “discipline”;
God treats you as sons.
For what “son” is there whom his father does not discipline?
At the time,all discipline seems a cause not for joy but for pain,
yet later it brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness
to those who are trained by it.
So strengthen your drooping hands and your weak knees.
Make straight paths for your feet,
that what is lame may not be disjointed but healed.
These words from today's second scripture reading immediately spoke to my heart and reminded me of the spiritual work of mercy that exhorts us to "bear wrongs patiently." Actually, three more words of wisdom that we can consider.
As Christians we are challenged to bear all things, to endure all things...We know from the lives of the apostles and the saints that they were masters at this spiritual work of mercy. This attitude of mercy, which is the fruit of living a life of beatitude, is the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. It is the direct result of our desire to imitate Our Lord who endured all things, even unto death.
When we bear wrongs patiently and when we forgive offenses willingly, we are not only being merciful to others who have tried and tested us, but we are being merciful to ourselves. We can experience profound peace of mind and heart when we forgive ourselves willingly and die to our ego.
How do I endure my trials?
Do I respond with fear and anxiety?
Do I rejoice that I suffered a little for Christ?
Do I withdraw and write off certain people and situations?
Here is how St. Peter describes trials:
There is cause for rejoicing here. You may for a time have to suffer the distress of many trials: but this is so that your faith, which is more precious than the passing splendor of fire-tried gold, may by its genuineness lead to praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ appears. (1 Peter 6-7)
Prayer can help us prepare for the battle of trials that will always be a part of our life. Prayer can help us get to know ourselves-who we really are before the Lord. St. Teresa of Jesus (Avila) teaches us that self-knowledge is painful. Purity of heart, although a gift of God, does not come easily. As I have mentioned before, holiness is back-breaking, hard spiritual labor, because we do not die to our egos easily.
Bl. Elizabeth of the Trinity teaches us that Heaven begins now, not when we die. Trials in this life are our purgatory. It is the Lord's way of being merciful to us-purifying us now so that we may begin to live a life of beatitude in the here and now.
Let us pray for each other that we will "endure our trials" patiently, knowing that the Holy Spirit will help us to endure all things for the love of Christ.
The Spiritual Works of Mercy:
To instruct the ignorant;
To counsel the doubtful;
To admonish sinners;
To bear wrongs patiently;
To forgive offenses willingly;
To comfort the afflicted;
To pray for the living and the dead.
Peace be with you!
Rosemarie, ocds
______________________
No comments:
Post a Comment