Dear brothers and sisters, as we approach the end of the liturgical year, the readings invite us to reflect on our dispositions as Christians amid struggles and suffering. Human life is indeed marked by trials and difficult moments, that cause a lot of anxiousness and search for quick remedies. Unluckily many progressive preachers profit to treat prayers as “tablets” that instantly removes every problem. The Gospel of today teaches us something different. Christ tells us today that suffering, human struggle, pain etc. is not a sign the absence of God, nor is a sign we are not praying well or we are evil. God is always with us even in our suffering state. What we need to do is to entrust our struggle to him and live according to his teachings. To live in truth, in justice, in love, and in charity will not always make us popular. In fact, we may be criticized, mocked, or misunderstood. People may say to us: Who do you think you are? Do you think you are the first to be kind, honest, or charitable?” Jesus himself warns us in today’s Gospel that following him may even bring betrayal from family, friends, and those we love. We may be hated simply because we live according to the way of Christ and uphold the moral values of the Gospel. But he equally tells us to keep in mind that we are not to prepare our defense beforehand, because he himself shall give us eloquence and wisdom that none of our opponents will be able to resist or contradict. He might not take away our suffering, but he will give us courage, wisdom and strength to face it. The problem is, sometimes out of egoism and because we need acceptance and to be feel loved, we compromise Christian and moral values, we conform with others to act in injustice, evil, lies. How often have we changed our decisions, acted against our conscience, or conformed to the expectations of others—family, friends, or society—even when we knew these choices contradicted Christian values and the demands of justice and charity? Out of fear or convenience, we may sometimes cooperate with what is wrong. Today, the Lord calls us to say “No” to evil and “Yes” to the path of Christ. Jesus assures us: “Not a hair of our head will be lost.” He invites us to trust in him and to endure, for “by our endurance we will gain our lives.”
In the first reading, God reminds us that our choices have consequences. Those who choose evil, arrogance, or injustice, those who harm others without remorse—will face the bitterness of their actions. But those who persevere in doing good, living according to Christ, will receive a glorious reward. As the psalmist says: “The Lord comes to rule the peoples with fairness.” However, being Christian does not mean spending all our time in church, escaping from the world, or living a strange, overly spiritualized and isolated life. The second reading teaches us that we must work, contribute to the development of our families, society, and country. Christian life is not idleness; it is a life that evangelizes through action, through daily work done with integrity, love, and justice. Let us therefore ask the Lord to give us the grace to persevere, to remain faithful witnesses to his love, truth, and justice in the moments when it is hardest to do so. Amen
NGALA AUSTIN KANJO
Piarist
Ngala Austin Kanjo is a religious and priest in the Order of the Piarist Schools from the Province of Central Africa. Born in Shisong, Cameroon. He is currently undergoing a master’s program on formation of formators at the Gregorian University.
