Jesus Is Worth Whatever We Bear For Him

 

Whatever life-challenge we bear for Christ is redeemed.

Reflection on Today’s Readings, Friday of 2nd Week of Easter, Year B, April 12th, 2024
Texts: Acts 5:34-42; Psalm 27:1,4,13-14; John 6:1-15 

The apostles teach us, today, that Jesus is worth whatever we bear for Him. We read, “and when they had called in the apostles, they beat them and charged them not to speak in the name of  Jesus, and let them go. Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonour for the name.” The gain of being in Christ is incomparable to whatever we bear in this life for Him.  

Jesus is worth more than whatever suffering we bear in this life. This exhorts us not to see life-challenge as God’s displeasure. We should bear our life-challenge for Christ and redeem it. Whatever life-challenge we bear for Christ is redeemed and becomes means of salvation. 

Readiness to bear whatever for Christ set us up for great exploit in Christ. Self-discipline comes with willingness to bear anything for Christ. Without Self-discipline we cannot achieve something meaningful in life. 

The secret of advancement in Christ

Our problem is our unwillingness to bear anything for Christ. The cause of moral decadence is unwillingness to bear anything for Christ. If we are willing to bear anything for Christ we will not steal because of poverty. There will be no reason for evil, vices, sins and the likes in our life. We lie because we do not want to suffer dishonour, loss or pain.  

There is no progress in Christ without willingness to bear anything for Him. We cannot advance in virtues and holiness without willingness to bear anything for Christ. Hence, we see in the apostles, today, the secret of advancement in Christ. Willingness to bear anything for Christ is the attitude of those to whom the world is crucified. When we are ready to bear anything for Christ, to live is Christ, to die is also Christ. 

Prayer 

O God, hope and light of the sincere, we humbly entreat you to dispose our hearts to offer you worthy prayer and ever to extol you by dutiful proclamation of your praise. Amen  

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke