JESUS EMBRACES SUFFERING FOR OUR SAKE
There was a time during His ministry when it must have dawned on Jesus that the path ahead was going to get very difficult. He must have agonized as to whether He would embrace the will of God or not. We see something of this in the Garden of Gethsemane. As disciples of Jesus, we need to realize that we will face similar defining moments in our lives.
It is easy to be a follower when everything goes smoothly without any problems. This is fair-weather discipleship and it proves nothing about the level of commitment of the individual. The real character of a person is most evident when adversity strikes.
In the Garden of Gethsemane, we see that Jesus really has only one thing on His mind, namely, to do His Father’s will and accomplish all He was sent to do, no matter what the personal cost may be. The legacy of a person depends on the strength and commitment he demonstrates in times of adversity rather than the easy successes that come his way. We tend to remember far more strongly the experiences where people have to fight for what they believe, risking it all in order to live the dream and do what is right.
We can go through life bouncing from one event to the next one, never putting our own stamp on anything. Too many people allow the world to dictate what they want and what they do. It is time for the disciples of Jesus to say, “Enough! We will live the Gospel over and above anything else.” This is the way to leave lasting marks in the world. The legacy of the saints is far greater than any politician’s or sportsman’s. The glory of the present moment is fleeting — here one day and gone the next! Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL
REFLECTION QUESTION: Do you want to make a difference in life or are you resigned that you are not going to make a difference in the world?
Jesus, help me to believe in myself and accept that I have something unique to offer the world.
May the light of Your truth shine through me all the days of my life.
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