June 30: Promises / Promesas

In Matthew 8, 18-22, a would-be follower of Jesus says, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” Over the course of many centuries, many other people have expressed a similar hope or made a similar promise. History tells us, however, that many who want to follow Him in good times can easily fall away when times get hard.

As some have said over the course of the same many centuries, we need to trust in the Lord in dark times as well as in sunshine and light. Like the promise a couple makes on the day of their wedding, we need to give ourselves to Him “for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, all the days of our lives.”

Christ asks us to be faithful, regardless of our shifting circumstances. He also asks us to trust in His promise: that He will always be faithful to us.

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Following-up on Sunday’s Feast: The memory of Sts. Peter and Paul was beautifully evoked by Saint Clement, St. Peter’s fourth successor as head of the Church. He wrote: “Let us set before our eyes the illustrious Apostles: Peter, who endured numerous labors and when he had at length suffered martyrdom, departed to the place of glory due to him; and Paul who, having taught righteousness to the whole world, and come to the extreme limit of the west, suffered martyrdom under the prefects, and went into the holy place, having proved himself a striking example of patience.” (St. Clement’s Letter to the Corinthians, par. 5)

Homework for the coming week: The best way to honor the memory of all the holy men and women who have gone before us, especially Sts. Peter and Paul, is to treasure the faith that they lived, preached, and taught, and pass it on as best we can to others.

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“Sígueme,” dice Jesús (Mateo 8, 18-22). Tenemos que dejar atrás todo lo que no esté en conformidad con su mensaje, el Evangelio. Esto se aplica no solo a religiosos, sacerdotes, y misioneros, sino a todos los cristianos. Tenemos que entender y aceptar que la Buena Noticia es radical y nos pide a veces tomar decisiones que sobrepasan los lazos familiares y todo lo que nos es tan querido.