We hear all around us that there is no hope, that God does not exist and that we might as well just give up, and sometimes it’s really hard not to listen to these voices of discouragement. Both today’s reading from Jeremiah and the Gospel present very relatable situations. There have been times in my life when I’ve felt scrutiny and criticism because I am a religious person and times when I felt I was the only one standing. Jeremiah and Jesus both find themselves in this situation, and the way they handle it gives us a great model of sainthood.

Despite the negative responses of the world around them, Jeremiah and Jesus hold fast to what they know to be the truth, because they are working for God and not themselves. They loved God more than they loved earthly glory, satisfaction or recognition, and because they gave themselves up for the sake of God, He made them stronger than they ever would have been by themselves. God became Jeremiah’s “mighty champion,” and through His power, Jesus escaped his attackers unharmed.

A couple months ago I heard a talk by Mark Hart, who said that being a saint is doing exactly what Jeremiah and Jesus did: in midst of the discouragement, they kept working for God, or “playing for the team.” Sainthood is not having the moment of glory on Earth, but working constantly for the glory that is in Heaven. The good news is that if you are willing to go through the pain for the sake of the “team,” others will follow your example. We can see this in the Gospel when, after Jesus witnesses to God, many begin to follow him. It’s also encouraging to remember that all the saints been in the same situations, and they are in heaven cheering us on every little step that we take.