Dear Christ the King,
Pope Francis titled this year’s jubilee, “Pilgrims of Hope.” We are on a journey to God’s kingdom. This life is not our home. Our destination is heaven. This belief is not something that is a product of wishful thinking. It has been promised us by Jesus himself. But along the way, we encounter obstacles, difficulties, and sufferings. We are tempted to give up the journey. That is why one of the key virtues we need is perseverance.
The kind of perseverance that Jesus talks about in today’s Gospel is not simply the grittiness and toughness found in sports, working for a living, or studying over time. It is rooted in the assurance that the promises of Christ are true. In other words, it is rooted in the supernatural gift of hope. What is not obvious in our life’s pilgrimage, is that we can clearly see the destination. That is why hardship may stop us. The gift of hope allows us to trust in Christ, and gives us a reason to persevere, even if we may not see the point of enduring suffering.
Jesus is honest about the cost of discipleship in today’s gospel. There is persecution and even death for some. Nevertheless, Christ promises the final victory. That is why we can persevere, even in the face of losing everything. While discipleship will not cost most of us our lives, it does always cost everything in some sense. First, we are called to be detached from everything, even our relationships. This doesn’t mean we don’t love or care. It means that we can be free to use material things properly and to be able to seek the good of others beyond our self-interest.
The second way that discipleship costs everything is that we offer everything we do to God. We have many responsibilities to our work, our relationships, our Lord. Whatever we do, we give to Christ. Daily living requires this same perseverance if we are living it for Christ. Paul encourages the Thessalonians to work for their living. He himself worked hard so as not to be a burden on the communities of Christians he founded. He made tents for a living. While Paul made a living doing something many people may have done, he was also focused on why he was doing it. He was doing it for Christ, to bring people to Christ.
This gives meaning to everything we do. Whether we are working, studying, parenting, being a good friend, or enduring suffering, Christ unites it to himself. That gives us great hope and the perseverance we need to journey to our true home.
Blessings,
Deacon Andy Oross
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