Take Courage, Nothing Good Comes Easy.

Friday 27^th September 2019. Read Haggai 2:1-9, Psalm 43 and Luke 9:18-22.

_“The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.” *(Luke 9:22)*_

When you begin a race, a journey or perhaps a new virtue, it is usually sweet and interesting at first, but as you get along, going forward becomes difficult, tough and even unbearable. You soon begin to feel as though you have no other option but to give up. The irony of life is that It is precisely when things become difficult that we must push forward, this is because that is when we are closest to victory. As the saying goes, the darkest part of the night is just before daybreak.

Nevertheless, what would keep you going is not merely hope but courage. To be courageous is going to knock on the same door you have been kicked out several times. To be courageous is to refuse to drop the cross you are carrying even when it seems your very life is at stake. Those who win in life are those prepared to die trying.

Addressing the leaders and people of Israel, Haggai in today’s first reading says: “Yet now TAKE COURAGE, O Zerubbabel, says the Lord; TAKE COURAGE, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; TAKE COURAGE, all you people of the land, says the LORD; work, for I am with you, says the LORD of hosts, according to the promise that I made you when you came out of Egypt. My Spirit abides among you; FEAR NOT. For thus says the LORD of hosts: Once again, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land.” (Haggai 2:4-6).

Courage is not merely the absence of fear, it is the knowledge that God is alive and He is with you always. The road to success is never smooth and easy, it is never broad and comfortable. As Jesus would say: “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it. For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14). These words of Jesus apply correctly to every aspect of our lives.

Nothing good comes easy. There would be hurdles along the way, tough sacrifices to be made, hard choices to be made. Jesus knew that achieving salvation for mankind was not going to happen on a platter of gold. He knew what was ahead and prepared himself mentally and adequately.

At a time Jesus’ popularity had grown (even Herod got to hear about Jesus and was expecting to see Him as we read in yesterday’s Gospel passage), just when his disciples felt nothing could possibly go wrong especially when Peter correctly identified Jesus as “The Christ of God”, Jesus announced: “The Son of man MUST SUFFER many things, and be REJECTED by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be KILLED, and on the third day be RAISED.” (Luke 9:23). This was a moment of glory for Jesus’ disciples yet Jesus punctured their joy and amazement by telling them of tough days ahead. No wonder, Peter tried to protest.

One lesson we learn from Jesus is the need to always tell ourselves the truth. It makes sense to say to myself “suffering awaits me but Glory will come” than to tell myself “I reject suffering, it shall be glory to glory.” It is better for us to tell ourselves the truth; nothing good comes easy and be courageous than for us to feel disappointed with God when things become tough.

Faith in God is not a shield against tough times; it is rather a defence that keeps us going in tough times. Everything you desire is on the other side of your fears, get up today and face them squarely. Take courage, you are closer to daybreak than you think. Take courage, God has not given up on you yet. You have tried and failed many times, go and try again.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus my big brother, grant me the grace of Courage especially when it matters most. Amen. St. Vincent De Paul, Pray for us.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Friday of the 25th Week in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: Haggai 2, 1 to 9, Psalm 43 and Luke 9, 18 to 22)