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.
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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.