Fifth Tuesday of Easter

They strengthened the spirits of the disciples and exhorted them to persevere in the faith, saying, "It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God." They appointed presbyters for them in each Church and, with prayer and fasting, commended them to the Lord in whom they had put their faith.

The words Barnabas and Paul spoke to the early Christians have just as much validity today. We, like our predecessors, have to persevere in faith. We have to be willing and able to undergo many hardships for the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Just as Jesus underwent a Passion for us, so, too, we must undergo one for him. We must be willing to make our lives into living sacrifices for the glory of God and the good of others. This is no easy task, but it is one that we all must perform if we want to be disciples of Christ. Thankfully, with prayer, fasting, and a firm trust in God's Divine Plan, we can become good and faithful servants and worthy successors the Apostles.

Are we persevering in our faith in the face of the temptations, distractions, and indifference of the world? Are we willing to undergo hardships for our faith? How can we make our lives into living sacrifices for God's Glory and the good of all?

O Lord, we commend ourselves to you and seek only to do your will.

Amen.

Third Saturday of Easter

Many of the disciples of Jesus who were listening said, "This saying is hard; who can accept it?" Since Jesus knew that his disciples were murmuring about this, he said to them, "Does this shock you?”

The way of our salvation can be hard and difficult for us to accept at times. We might be overcome with fears, doubts, and anxieties in regards to what Jesus is asking us to do on a daily basis. However, we should not be shocked by this. Christ gives us the perfect model for what it means to follow him when he makes his life a living sacrifice for our sins through his Passion and Death. What should be shocking to us is how we react to this sacrifice. It’s not always at the forefront of our minds. Sometimes we go long periods of time without giving it a thought, and yet his unblemished sacrifice is ever present to us through the outpouring of his love, mercy, and grace. Yes, the way of the cross is hard and difficult to accept, but Jesus accepted it for us, so why can’t we accept his offer to share his easy yoke?

What are the difficulties we expect to face while doing God’s Will? What hardships have come into our lives as the result of doing the right and good thing? What graces have we received because we decided to do the right and hard things in our lives?

O Lord, your way is hard to accept, but we want to walk with you now and forevermore.

Amen.