Perseverance

John Lennon of the Beetles is quoted saying “Everything will be okay in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end. Our readings today make us think about the end of time, and of this age as we know it. We are fast approaching the end of the 2019 liturgical year, next Sunday is the last, Sunday of the year celebrating the Solemnity of Christ the King, and many of us are convinced, that at the end, all things together will work for good for those who love God, and put their faith and trust in Christ the King. Amen? But not without perseverance.

Body

In the Gospel Jesus is describing the events that would take place before the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem in 70 AD. But the events he is describing could also be fitting to the great tribulation humanity may face specially Christians again, before Jesus’ second coming at the end of this age. We don’t know when Jesus will come again, we don’t even know when our own last day will be on earth. But either way, Jesus is calling us to persevere here and now. He says in the Gospel “By your perseverance you will secure your lives.”

In the Gospel Jesus is describing the events that would take place before the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem in 70 AD. But the events he is describing could also be fitting to the great tribulation humanity may face specially Christians again, before Jesus’ second coming at the end of this age. We don’t know when Jesus will come again, we don’t even know when our own last day on earth will be. It does not matter, either way, Jesus is calling us to persevere here and now. He says in the Gospel “By your perseverance you will secure your lives.”

Perseverance is the ability to endure, and navigate through hardships for the sake of reaching a greater end. Nothing works in the physical world without having highs and a lows for things to flow. Water flows downhill moving mountains and making beautiful rivers, what’s cold and dead comes to life in the warm path of the sun rays. Electricity flows from low to high, take a flash light, it has a battery with a negative and a positive pole, and a bulb in between, electrical current flows from the negative side of the battery through the bulb to the positive side of the battery and the bulb lights up. The bulb perseveres, does not burn out through the process and goes from being cold and dark to giving warmth and light. In a similar way there are great spiritual and moral highs and lows in this world and in our lives, but God wants to flow through us we persevere to move us from the low to high, warming up hearts and lighting up our lives. That’s perseverance.

Perseverance is the ability to endure, and navigate through hardships for the sake of reaching a greater end. Nothing works in the physical world without having highs and a lows for things to flow. Water flows downhill moving mountains and making beautiful rivers, what’s cold and dead comes to life in the warm path of the sun rays, electricity flows from negative to positive. A flash light, has a battery with a negative and a positive pole, and a bulb in between, electrical current flows from the negative side of the battery through the bulb to the positive side of the battery and the bulb lights up. The bulb perseveres, endures the current goes from being cold and dark to giving warmth and light. In a similar way there are great spiritual and moral lows and highs in this world, but God wants to flow through us in perseverance to move from negative to positive bring warmth and light to our lives and the world, but. That’s perseverance.

Conclusion

Perseverance is not something we muster up from ourselves, lest we burn out like a light bulb! Perseverance is a virtue, a gift from God, we constantly rely on God for it. You say deacon, I am feeling pretty good today, and I say praise God! great, keep on doing well persevering with grace from God. But some among us may not be doing so well, may be running low in our personal relationships, exhausted spiritually or emotionally, fearful of being persecuted for expressing your catholic faith, that career, Job situation not gone well, low self-esteem, lacking confidence, trapped in an unhealthy situation, you name it! And the Lord says “By your perseverance you will secure your lives.” O lord, grant us perseverance! Let your spirit flow through us in the Eucharist this morning, and move us to the higher ground, warm our hearts and light up our lives again with your tender loving kindness, and give us strength courage, wisdom and hope. Jesus calls us to pray always without becoming weary, let keep praying again with perseverance from him. Yes my friends, at the end, all things together will work for good for those who love God and are called according to his purpose, AMEN? But not without perseverance!

Perseverance is not something we muster up from ourselves, lest we burn out like a light bulb! Perseverance is a virtue, a gift from God, we constantly rely on God for it. Are you doing well today, praise God! great, keep on persevering with grace from God. Some of us may not be doing so well, may be running low in our personal relationships, that career, Job situation not going so well, spiritually in deserted places, exhausted, lacking faith and trust, trapped in unhealthy situations. You name it! Let us allow God to flow through the Eucharist in us this morning, let him warm up our hearts and light up our lives again with his tender loving mercy. Let’s flip that switch and make the connection, let it flow and let it go! Jesus tells us to pray always without becoming weary, prayer flowers up from the Holy Spirit in us, let us start praying again with perseverance from Jesus. Yes my friends, all things together work for good for those who love God and are called according to his purpose, AMEN? But not without perseverance!

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