Bible
Study: 2nd Timothy 2, 8 to 15 and Mark 12,
28 to 34.
Being a Christian does not
make one immune from the troubles of life, rather it helps you go through life
despite whatever you may be facing. At times, we struggle to understand why God
allows suffering in our lives when he is all-good, all-knowing and
all-powerful. Suffering is even more painful when it comes to us as a result of
our attempt to live out the dictates of our Christian faith. Without mincing
words, there are times when keeping the commandments of God may sound like a
death sentence. These are moments that put to test our level of Patience.
To be patient is to wait and
allow God change things for the better at his own time. To be patient is to keep
praying even when it appears as if prayers are not working anymore. To be
patient is to refrain from asking God, “where are you?” forgetting that it was
the same God who did great things for you in the past.
The words of St. Paul to
Timothy in our first reading today are worth repeating again and again. They are
words we need to keep telling ourselves when the chips are down. “The saying is
sure: If we have died with him, we shall also live with him; if we endure, we
shall also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us; if we are faithless,
he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself.” 2 Timothy 2, 11 to 13.
If we die for the sake of our
faith, we should be sure of a better life in heaven, but if we become impatient
with God and deny him by going against his commandments in the quest of living
a better life, he too would deny us. At times, you come across people who tell
you how they went into all sorts of things, all in a bid to make ends meet when
things were tough. By so doing, they denied God only for them to miss their
heavenly reward.
Above all, we should never
allow love for God and for one another die for this is the summary of the
commandments. As we see in the Gospel passage, for this very fact, Jesus told a
Scribe that he is not far from the kingdom of God. Truly when we sincerely love
one another, we are not far from heaven any longer.
Let us pray:
Lord Jesus, give me the
grace to endure and be patient with you when I have to suffer for the sake of
my faith. Amen.
Good morning.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you.
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