Determination

“God will not allow you to be lost if you persist in your determination not to lose Him.” St. Padre Pio

I was at the gym the other day and I saw a crowd of people whom I thought were working out but sadly they were all on their phones. Just scrolling as most people do nowadays. I am not the most fit person at the gym and even outside of it. What struck me was not so much the phones, but the lack of determination. It made me think of how determined I am in my own life. Sometimes, I think that I am not doing very much for Christ. I watch as family members take care of sick people in the family much better than I can. It seems that they have a love for Christ, and I live a dryness. Maybe, I am living in the desert.

“To begin is for everyone. To persevere is for saints.” St. Josemaria Escriva

I went to see the movie, Sight, from Angel Studios. I brought a group of friends with me to see the movie. Some of my adult international students also came with me. I would go if they didn’t come anyway. They were touched by the film. If a person does not like the film that is fine. I am not doing a critique about the film. I am thinking about what a commitment the doctor in the film had. How often are we discouraged? Probably always. We must be determined and steadfast in our faith. The readings at mass this week are from the letters of Peter. I am not a biblical scholar, nor do I claim to be, but I am struck but his words. He believed in Christ. He was determined in his faith. In the movie, the nun quoted Mother Teresa. We could go and on about her and how great she was, but she was another example of determination. I have faced setbacks in my life often. I do not think I could match such greatness.

"Never give up prayer, and should you find dryness and difficulty, persevere in it for this very reason.  God often desires to see what love your soul has, and love is not tried by ease and satisfaction.” St. John of the Cross

My students are quite intelligent, but they are young. We do not know what God has in store for us. I think back to when I was that age and what I was doing. Was I really living for Christ? I had read about St. Virginia Centurione Bracelli and I was amazed how she was so young when she married and when her husband died was left with young children.   Instead of marrying again, she offered her life to God. How many of us do this? I visit the Carmelite nuns often. They help me a lot. They made a great commitment to God – lifelong. Some of us cannot even get to mass on Sunday. Where is our determination? The same can be said about many saints; another one that struck me was Blessed Stefan Wyszynski. He needed to be strong in front of the adversity of the communists of Poland and continued despite the opposition he faced. Amazing!! We live in a difficult time now also. We must be living our faith and our relationship with Christ in every moment. We do not know when God will reveal Himself to us. He is really a God of surprises.  I want to live an awareness at every moment. It is easy to ignore the reality in front of us. The saints are an example. Daily mass would help us. But we also need a good prayer life and we need to be surrounded by those who are ready to help us.

“Unfurl the sails, and let God steer us where He will.” St. Bede the Venerable