"Today is the day of salvation."  So says St. Paul to the Corinthians in today's First Reading.  He then proceeds to list a number of experiences through which he has endured.  There are many and it is worth reading them for yourself: 2Corinthians 6: 1-10 (click here).  

It does not matter what life throws at us, "...glory or dishonor, insult or praise. We may be treated as deceitful and yet are truthful; as unrecognized and yet acknowledged; as dying and behold we live; as sorrowful yet always rejoicing; as poor yet enriching many; as having nothing and yet possessing all things."

Whew!  Where do I sign on?  Oops! I've already signed on through Baptism, Easter, and most recently Pentecost.

Jesus, in today's Gospel reading, has a few other messages about being one of his followers and these are tough: "Offer no resistance to one who is evil."  Does that mean attempting to separate those evil deeds from the doers, a particularly tough one for me?  Afraid so.  

"Give over your cloak and your tunic to one who asks": Does that mean paying taxes that I feel are unjust or will not benefit me directly, but will add to the common good?  Afraid so.

"Should you be pressed into service, go twice the distance": Even when it's "not in my job description"?  Maybe.  

Finally, I invite you to reflect on someone you know who despite dealing with severe issues--illness, disability, hardship  of another kind--presents him/herself as joyful, serene, approachable.  What is one thing about that person that you admire and are you willing to seek ways to imitate the characteristic?  

In other words: Attend to this "day of salvation" that we are all offered. As I read on a poster: Christianity is not for wimps!  (Nor is any other faith that you choose to follow more deeply.)