A Jesuit Catholic University
in Omaha, Nebraska, since 1878

[146] Isaiah 53:10-11 Psalm 33:4-5, 18-19, 20+22 Hebrews 4:14-16 Mark 10:35-45 or 10:42-45

Weekly Guide for Daily Prayer The Daily Reflections

It’s difficult to suffer.  In today’s first reading we see that God is willing to put his servant, his own son, in harm’s way for our guilt.  And Jesus was more than willing to go.  But the question is, are we willing to follow?  Are we willing to take the risk that it requires, can we go out on that limb and be the people we are called to be?

Jesus asks that of his disciples in the Gospel.  He wants to know that the leaders of his church, when he is gone, are willing to go through what he will.  But they have to do it for the right reason.  They must do it out of the love in their hearts, and not because they want to be glorified, sitting on Jesus’ right and left in heaven.  We are called to bear burdens, and each one of us has a unique one.  There are days when it’s hard, but we need to put our trust in God, because only he knows the outcome, and he will make sure we are taken care of in the end.  I know it’s hard—believe me, I know—but the peace I receive in my heart when I decide something is out of my hands and decide to let God guide me is what reassures me that God will take care of me and my future.  I’m at a turning point in my life, and the decisions I make now will affect me for the rest of my life.  Now more than ever, I need to trust in God and see where he wants me in this world, because only he can know where I truly belong.

Struggling is where we discover who we truly are.  How are we to know who we are if we never face opposition or difficulties?  It shows our true character, because it’s easy to have faith when everything is going great.  It’s during the difficult times in life when we are truly challenged to be followers of Jesus.

“If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back.”