Perseverance or Laziness? This is a question
Perseverance is the act of will enlighted by hope, to see things through until the end. Despite obstacles, persecution, discouragement and fear one acts with great conviction as certainty of finding an answer is granted.
How should we respond to this lack of stability? First of all, we should accept
that we live in a priviledged time of purification and then we need to search ways of
co-operation with God who purifies everyone and everything. We need then to deepen our stability in Christ in His Teaching entrusted to the Church. We must never separate love of God from love of the Deposit of the Faith entrusted to the Church as in the doctrine we learn of Him whom we love. The deposit is the Revelation. His words are Truth. It is the Deposit of the faith that Christ is the Divine Person and in this light we know whom we love. Enlighted by the Doctrine we know that He is fully present in the Blessed Sacrament in His body, soul and divinity and we then know where to put our hearts and all our love.
“Open wide the doors for Christ. To his saving power open the boundaries of States, economic and political systems, the vast fields of culture, civilization, and development. Do not be afraid. Christ knows ‘what is in man’. He alone knows it.” (St John Paul 2)
Having been deeply rooted in Christ we will be able to “keep our heads in all situations”
(2 Tm 4:5). Hence “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal which comes upon you to prove you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.” (1 P 4:12 – 13)
Fr Stan