Welcome to the Struggle

You are in good company.

By John Rogers Herbert - Art UK, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=91932344

A couple of days ago Catholics remembered St. John the Baptist’s martyrdom. I meant to post something then, but life got in the way. What I wanted to say can be summarized by these three points.

1. Every disciple has to carry a cross not of their choosing.

2. The cross can include difficulties with family, peers, or personal issues from the present, or the past. Or it may be due to a ministry. Or a tragedy.

3. Your cross is tailored by God to bring you to sainthood. But it hurts because it is a cross, and you need God to help you carry it. Jesus will carry it with you.

Why am I writing this now? Geeze Louise, Ann, why the sermon? Why so grim?

The memorial of St. John the Baptist reminded me about what happens to public witnesses to Jesus. Granted, we aren’t likely to be beheaded, at least not in America. But we may be mocked, falsely accused, or even slandered. We will definitely be misunderstood.

These things have happened to me. My hardest crosses have been public and private humiliations, false accusations, and rejections. Some of the rejections have broken my heart. I am sure some of you have carried much harder crosses.

But…#3. Thank God we are not alone. I guess this is the reason I wanted to write this post. In this life we face many difficulties, even crosses. But be of good cheer. The crosses are temporary and they are not our destination. God, who is love itself, is.¹

1. Disciples are not the only ones who suffer. Every human being does. God still wants to help you, no matter who you are. Just ask him for help.