Brothers and sisters:
I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothing
compared with the glory to be revealed for us.
For in hope we were saved.
Now hope that sees for itself is not hope.
For who hopes for what one sees?
But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait with endurance. ROM 8:18-25
St. Paul reminds us that any suffering on earth even the worst suffering is dull in comparison with the glory of heaven. Peter Kreeft says, “The worst suffering on earth looks like the littlest cold compared to the glory in heaven.”
Paul then introduces hope. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “1820 Christian hope unfolds from the beginning of Jesus’ preaching in the proclamation of the beatitudes. The beatitudes raise our hope toward heaven as the new Promised Land; they trace the path that leads through the trials that await the disciples of Jesus. But through the merits of Jesus Christ and of his Passion, God keeps us in the “hope that does not disappoint.”88 Hope is the “sure and steadfast anchor of the soul… that enters… where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf.”89 Hope is also a weapon that protects us in the struggle of salvation: “Let us… put on the breastplate of faith and charity, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.”90 It affords us joy even under trial: “Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation.”91 Hope is expressed and nourished in prayer, especially in the Our Father, the summary of everything that hope leads us to desire. (1716, 2772)
1821 We can therefore hope in the glory of heaven promised by God to those who love him and do his will.92 In every circumstance, each one of us should hope, with the grace of God, to persevere “to the end”93 and to obtain the joy of heaven, as God’s eternal reward for the good works accomplished with the grace of Christ. In hope, the Church prays for “all men to be saved.”94 She longs to be united with Christ, her Bridegroom, in the glory of heaven: (2016, 1037)
Hope, O my soul, hope. You know neither the day nor the hour. Watch carefully, for everything passes quickly, even though your impatience makes doubtful what is certain, and turns a very short time into a long one. Dream that the more you struggle, the more you prove the love that you bear your God, and the more you will rejoice one day with your Beloved, in a happiness and rapture that can never end.95 CCC 1820, 1821
Jesus said, “What is the Kingdom of God like?
To what can I compare it?
It is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in the garden.
When it was fully grown, it became a large bush
and the birds of the sky dwelt in its branches.”
Again he said, “To what shall I compare the Kingdom of God?
It is like yeast that a woman took
and mixed in with three measures of wheat flour
until the whole batch of dough was leavened.” Lk 13:18-21
Today, Jesus begins teaching in parables in Luke’s gospel. Parables are earthly stories with heavenly meaning. The parable of the mustard seed teaches us that the Kingdom of God started with small and humble beginnings-Pentecost and is constantly growing with souls filling it’s branches. What part are we taking in our role to fill the branches with souls for the Kingdom of heaven. This life is a pregame warm-up for the real game-eternity. We warm up for our sports about 30 minutes before game time. In the overall picture of eternity which goes on forever and never ends, the time we have on earth is a grain of sand compared to eternity. Make every day count showing God and those around you that you love them.
Today’s challenge: Live like it is your last day on earth. Love. Pray. Hope. Don’t worry. -Padre Pio
Become a saint!
Christian YOLO
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