Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Therefore, we are not discouraged; rather, although our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this momentary light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to what is seen but to what is unseen; for what is seen is transitory, but what is unseen is eternal. For we know that if our earthly dwelling, a tent, should be destroyed, we have a building from God, a dwelling not made with hands, eternal in heaven.

The things in this world are indeed transitory… temporary. It might not feel that way as we live in the midst of our transition, but this is the truth. Whatever difficulties we face in this life are as nothing before the vast, great, and wonderful future God has promised us if we follow Him. The momentary afflictions of this world may weigh us down while we are on earth, but in the end, they will have no weight at all in the next life. Whatever goods we have here on earth will pale and vanish in comparison to the beauty and spiritual richness we will enjoy in Heaven. God’s Eternal Love will infuse everything in the afterlife and this alone will be enough for us forever and ever.

Do we recognize that this world is only transitory? How can we place more worth on our happiness in the afterlife than the pleasures of this world? Are we doing everything in our powers to prepare ourselves a dwelling place in Heaven?

O Lord, let us not be discouraged by the world, but trust in you and our eventual eternity in Heave with you.

Amen.