33rd Sunday

Hardship and suffering seem to be a part of the readings for this weekend. Perseverance is the virtue required of the followers of Jesus. According to the Catechism: Faith is an entirely free gift that God makes to man. We can lose this priceless gift, as St. Paul indicated to St. Timothy: "Wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting conscience, certain persons have made shipwreck of their faith ."To live, grow, and persevere in the faith until the end we must nourish it with the word of God; we must beg the Lord to increase our faith; it must be "working through charity," abounding in hope, and rooted in the faith of the Church.

Perseverance requires other virtues, such as fortitude and courage. Scripture speaks of our struggle as “war”. Preparations for that spiritual warfare include our “basic training.” Know your faith. Renew your faith. Strengthen your faith through Word and Sacrament. Exercise your faith through the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy.

Read paragraphs 162-165 in the Catechism for thoughts on perseverance, and 2426-2429 for instruction on human work as duty and vocation. Works of Mercy: 1458, 1473, 1815, 1829, 1853, 2044, 2447