This Sunday’s readings acknowledge the real challenges of living our faith. Following Christ will sometimes put us at odds with others – an uncomfortable reality that many will face in our broken and divided world. Yet we can find strength knowing that Jesus understands the constant opposition (both inward and outward) that we face. The second reading says, “Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself”. Jesus knows what it’s like to face opposition, but he endured it “for the joy that was set before him”. That is our calling too. We are made to know the joy that awaits us beyond our crosses. We find the strength to persevere through our trials by “keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus”. When we suffer, let us offer up our sufferings to the Lord, knowing that he knows exactly what we are going through, and knowing that he has given us the grace to get through it. Keeping Christ as our focus, we will be able to overcome any obstacle we may face and run toward the goal of heaven.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus said, “I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that it were already kindled!” Jesus’ desire is that the whole world be set aflame with his love, and yet, he knows that this will not come easily. The good news is that Jesus is with us in the midst of the struggle. He too knows the deep longing and even distress (the Gospel today uses that word!) that we experience as we work so that others may come to know God’s love. We can take comfort in the fact that as much as we want to see others come to faith, God desires it even more than we do, and he is also pouring out his grace continually upon us. In the midst of any discouragement we may feel about those who seem opposed to God and to faith, may we remember the burning love that Christ has and his immense desire to draw all people to himself.
Pray for those whom you may know who seem closed to the Gospel, or who are away from the Church. Invite the Holy Spirit to touch your heart with a particular love and zeal to pray for them, that those who may seem the most opposed to faith might come, one day, to embrace it.
