Encouragement

Life is not always easy for us as individuals.

Life is not always easy for us as a Church.

As individuals and as a Church, we have great words of encouragement from today’s readings – beginning with the first (Acts 14:21-27).

They strengthened the spirits of the disciples
and exhorted them to persevere in the faith, saying,
“It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships
to enter the kingdom of God.”

The second reading (Revelation 21:1-5a) gives us hope of the comfort that awaits us once we have faithfully completed our course in this life by the grace of God.

He will wipe every tear from their eyes,
and there shall be no more death or mourning,
wailing or pain,
for the old order has passed away.”


But in the meantime we do not merely suffer through life stoically, but we must follow the command of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in today’s Gospel (John 13:31-33a, 34-35).

I give you a new commandment:
love one another.

As I have loved you,
so you also should love one another.
This is how all will know
that you are my disciples,
if you have love for one another.”

May we be faithful and may we love.