Firm in faith
The Lord’s dedication and obedience to His Father’s will, and His love for us, all mankind, allowed Him to keep going regardless of the hardships and trials that He would have to face.
The Lord’s dedication and obedience to His Father’s will, and His love for us, all mankind, allowed Him to keep going regardless of the hardships and trials that He would have to face.
Just like the prophet Jeremiah, we also struggle to carry out the will of God. We face challenges and hardships throughout our ministry. We encounter stiff opposition and rejection from many whom we are sent to minister to — the people of God.
Prophet Jeremiah himself was also persecuted greatly, just like some priests and religious within their communities. I don’t know if there are religious nuns and other church workers who are also suffering persecution. I hope not. All this is because of what we are doing for the Lord.
Because of this, too, we are tempted by the devil, who tries to persuade us to stop our mission and work for the Lord. Yet, the Lord keeps calling us, reminding us to heed Him and embrace the missions and works we have been called to.
In some instances, we are tempted and, shall I say, the devil may prevail for a short while, but then we stand back up, firm in our faith, and wholeheartedly follow the Lord and continue to speak the truth about God and His words, even if hardships and challenges come to us. Let us take courage and commitment to do the work of our calling and mission.
In our Gospel today, we hear the Lord speaking to His disciples, telling them He would eventually have to face His enemies and how He would suffer in Jerusalem and face His Passion and death.
This caused unrest among the disciples, and Peter, in particular, pulled the Lord aside and tried to dissuade Him from allowing such a thing to happen. This was met with an immediate rebuke from the Lord, not for Peter personally, but for Satan, who was manipulating Peter and the others so that the Lord would doubt His mission and works.
All of us are reminded to resist the temptations and pressures around us — that we do not end up allowing ourselves to be swayed by worldly glory, fame, temptations and pleasures, lest we fall into sin and evil.
Unless we make a conscious effort and have a strong determination to keep ourselves committed to the path the Lord has shown us, and unless we do what we can so that our every word, action and work proclaim the glory of God, His truth and love in our society today, we cannot truly consider ourselves faithful Christians.
The Lord’s dedication and obedience to His Father’s will, and His love for us, all mankind, allowed Him to keep going regardless of the hardships and trials that He would have to face.
This is something that should serve as a powerful inspiration for us all to follow in our own lives.
