Fourth Wednesday of Ordinary Time

In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood. You have also 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 his 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.

Discipline is a word that can evoke many feelings. On the one hand, the word can frighten us with thoughts of beatings. On the other hand we know instinctively that in order to form a good conscience, we need discipline. Of course beatings aren't discipline, rather they are a show of indiscipline. True discipline is nothing to be afraid of because its aim isn't to take out another's frustration on another person, but instead meant to guide a loved one back to the path of righteousness. This type of discipline is measured and meted out in order to show us the errors of our ways and not to merely satisfy the anger of the inflictor. God is the most perfect of all discipliners and through His trials of us He forms his followers into His disciples so we can bear good fruit in the world and one day join Him in Heaven. He does this out of love and we should be joyful for it, no matter the hardship He sends our way.

Have we resisted our sins to the point of shedding blood? Are we willing to accept the discipline we need to overcome our selfish sins and embrace the fruit of righteousness? How can we more faithfully endure our trials for God's glory and the good of others, including ourselves?

O Lord, help us to accept your disciple and bear the fruits of righteousness.

Amen.