G.K. Chesteron writes, "courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means a strong desire to live taking the form of a readiness to die."
Into today's gospel Jesus exhorts us to courage and perseverance. In the words of Pope Leo XIII, "To suffer and to endure is the lot of Humanity."
We can never eliminate suffering in our life. We suffer the moment we are given life. We suffer the consequences of being human. We feel pain and discomfort and agony and stress and worry. Our bodies are frail and weak and gravity is too much for us. We suffer love when it is found.
We can ease pain by comfort; we can never eliminate suffering. It is foolish to think otherwise.
Jesus in the gospel exhorts us to remember though we can never eliminate suffering, we can choose what we will suffer for. This is the mark of true freedom.
Take courage! Persevere!
May our suffering be of value as we fill up what is lacking in the suffering of Christ.
What we choose to suffer for will magnify the true value of our lives.
May we choose Christ for He chose to suffer for us.
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