Reflections of a beloved son

Anything that is worth doing will take work, and sometimes it will bring about tears. Following Christ in a world that rejects Him will be difficult if we allow it to be. The world may try to bring us down with their hate speech and subjective contradictions, but we must remain defenders of Objective Truth, the truth that sets us free. The Truth is worth it. Christ is worth it. You are worth it. Those walking in darkness and hopelessness are worth it. Those who persecute us are worth it. We must by our example of perseverance and love bring others to this Truth. If we want peace and joy then we must keep the faith and hope burning within our hearts. This peace and joy is already present and it never leaves us, but we must choose receive it, even in the midst of tribulations.

When life gets tough, how do we respond? When challenges arise, do we rise to the occasion or do we retreat? Being a good person and bearing witness to the Truth will have its share of difficulties and hardships. Will we grow tired of doing good, and instead fall into the trap and lie of mediocrity and selfishness? Jesus asks, "Do you also want to leave?"

“See that you not be deceived,” Jesus told His disciples.   Our Lord warns the people of the trials and persecutions that should come upon them (Lk. 21:5-19).  Jesus tells of wars, persecutions, false prophets, earthquakes, famines, and plagues.  He even says that those who we love will betray us and hand us over.  But the Lord encourages them and asks them to not be overly worried, “. ..for I myself shall give you a wisdom in speaking that all your adversaries will be powerless to resist of refute .”  In other words, we can not handle these trials and persecutions on our own.  Only by grace and through and with Our Lord Jesus will we be able to overcome them and endure them.  At the end of the Gospel passage, Jesus tells them, “ By your perseverance you will secure your lives. ”  Wow. Wars, persecutions, natural disasters, and even betrayal by my beloved ones? That does not sound hopeful.  I mean wars and persecutions and natural disas...

Sometimes it seems like everything that could go wrong has gone wrong.  Oftentimes it seems like no one cares, and no one bothers to listen.  When I have reached rock bottom it seems like there is no way back up.  Have you ever felt this way?  It’s a horrible feeling to have.  To feel that no one cares and understands, and then try to go through the motions, it just takes so much work and so much energy out of me.  I feel alone.  However, we are told “ God is close to the broken-hearted ” ( Ps. 34:19 ).   Even when we feel all alone and that no one cares we must remember and we must try our best to know and believe that the Father is there with us .  He’s there walking with us.  He’s there when things seems to go wrong.  He’s there when it seems like no one is listening and that no one cares or bothers to ask and understand. And, he’s right there with us at rock bottom.  In fact, He’s always been there.  He’s waitin...