On Obedience and Endurance

Today`s Readings:
First Reading: Hosea 14:2-10
Psalm: Psalm 51
Gospel: Matthew 10:16-23

Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves. But beware of people, for they will hand you over to courts and scourge you in their synagogues, and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake as a witness before them and the pagans. When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say. You will be given at that moment what you are to say. For it will not be you who speak but the Father speaking through you. Brother will hand over brother to death, and the father his child; children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in one town, flee to another. Amen, I say to you, you will not finish the towns of Israel before the son of Man comes.

"...but whoever endures to the end will be saved." Matthew 10:22

In life, we encounter so many things. We encounter people, difficult situations, problems, obstacles. In these encounters, it is up to us to decide which course to take - whether to follow what we think is right for us or to follow the will of God. Because of our own free will, we tend to follow our own will, thinking that by doing so, life will be better for us. When we are faced with problems, most of the time we deny it and take actions to forget it, sometimes resorting to actions that result to another problem or even taking our own lives. How many have thought of taking their own lives or even tried doing it but failed? Countless, I may say. Sometimes, we just forget the fact that the best way to solve the problem is by embracing and facing it.

As Christians, God calls on us to obey his commandments and His will for us. But this is easier said than done. In our journey, the path that we take is not always smooth. We sometimes face hindrances - such as oppression and apathy. Even financial difficulties sometimes prevents us from obeying God`s will. The challenge that our family is facing is the fact that we live in a non-Christian nation, where religion is not of importance and life is just easy to take. But God indeed is gracious and faithful to us, His children. Because he always gives us the grace to take on any challenge in life. Even if we face very tough times, God always provides for us - in one way or another. No matter how big the argument, no matter how tight the budget, no matter how insignificant we sometimes feel, God has been gracious and merciful to us and showed us how to forgive and to sort things out. And that amazes me. God, in His infinite love, has sustained our family. And I think to myself, there is indeed power in prayers. And I know that we will endure because God will always guide us to the right path, and He will show us the way.

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