If we want Christ’s light to shine, darkness must give way. Sometimes this can be painful. God’s word is a double-edged sword that separates darkness from light. Our lives are often limited by the perceptions we have. Many people try to avoid suffering in various ways for temporary satisfaction, oblivious to the eternal life that awaits us all. Just as God chose the Israelites, he has chosen us for a mission. We are to carry our crosses and follow Jesus, who is the way, the truth, and the life. As Pope Francis says, “Jesus no longer belongs to the past, but lives in the present and is projected towards the future, Jesus is the ever- lasting “today” of God.” Suffering can be difficult, but we trust in him. Dietrich Bonhoeffer a German Lutheran pastor, who was imprisoned and put to death by the Nazi regime, said: “The peace of Jesus is the cross. But the cross is the sword that God wields on earth.” Therefore let us boldly embrace the cross, for it is the key to resurrection and life.

PRAYER: Abba Father, give us the grace to follow you fearlessly by the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.