June 2018 SPECIAL EDITION December 2016 Issue | Page 8

December 2016 Continued from page 1 So, what did Jesus tell his disciples to do to prevent all of that from happening? The answer: Jesus told them they could not do anything to prevent what would happen. I don’t know about you, but I believe that if Jesus told that to the average 21st century American, Mr. Average American would say, “No way, Lord, I want a plan to avoid all that.” Well, Jesus would tell Mr. Average American exactly what he told his disciples way back then. Jesus would say, “Sorry, I have only one plan. All my disciples must patiently endure what comes their way.” If we want to get to heaven, we must patiently endure those who insult us because we don’t believe in abortion. No yelling. No screaming. Patient endurance. If we want heaven, we must turn the other cheek. We must love and forgive our enemies. If we want heaven, we must be willing to accept the insults that come from those who think we are fools to put others first and ourselves last and who think we are total idiots for choosing to serve rather than being served. The bottom line is this: Jesus’ disciples are called to patiently endure whatever God throws our way. Jesus’ disciples are called to turn life’s lemons into divine lemonade. Page 8 For 18 years when I lived in Nashville, Father Bill was my spiritual director. Father Bill had jaw cancer. After many operations, his face was badly distorted. Father Bill would say, “I’m not only not the prettiest man around, my face scares even puppies.” But, Father Bill was always upbeat. One day I asked Father Bill, “Why are you so happy?” Bill answered, “Mike I believe in Luke 21:19. Complaining doesn’t make my life a smidgen better. Patiently enduring them, though, gets me to the Pearly Gates. Patiently enduring them and, at the same time, using them to become a more loving person will get me THROUGH the Pearly Gates.” Unlike the first disciples, we may not face being beaten, jailed or executed but God puts other crosses into our lives. And, his advice to us is the same as the advice he gave to his first disciples: patiently endure. Why? Well, re-read what Father Bill told me. He said it perfectly.