October – 2022
PERSEVERANCE TRIUMPHS A few months ago, I invited the audience to meditate on the topic of perseverance, and I was surprised by the impact this had on thousands of people who heard me. So, I decided to share this month about the importance and great value of the virtue that Perseverance can have in our lives. How often have you decided with absolute determination to go after a goal or dream? And how many dreams and purposes have fallen short of that determination? A clear example is the crowds we see at gym clubs at the beginning of each year. Thousands of individuals with a strong resolution to start taking better care of their bodies, workout, eat properly, etc. However, as months go by, their determination lessens, and a vast majority stop doing what they had decided to do. Very few continue, and by persevering, they build a habit and lifestyle that ultimately benefits their health and wellbeing. I have seen this very clearly in the marathons that I have run. Thousands of runners closely packed together at the start line. But along the way, some start losing courage. Since a Marathon is a 42-kilometer (about 26-mile) race, you can imagine how many get left behind and decide to stop running. Many indeed! However, it is gratifying to see that many runners PERSEVERE despite the sacrifice and pain. They can visualize themselves crossing the finish line, and this is what keeps them going! In life, thousands of dreams are cut short due to a lack of perseverance. Yes, indeed, we will always find obstacles and reasons to quit. It is precisely then that our determination and willpower play a significant role. During the pandemic, thousands stopped pursuing a spiritual life. They cooled and fell into spiritual laziness that jeopardized their eternal salvation; by failing to persevere in this important area of their lives, they risked losing their most valuable possession, their souls. Jesus, the Master, spoke clearly about the importance of perseverance many times and in many ways. The clearest explanation is in St. Matthew chapter 24 verse 13 "But the one who perseveres to the end will be saved". Another example is the Lord’s parable of the persistent widow who appears before a judge to ask for justice "Though I neither fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow bothers me, I will vindicate her, or she will wear me out by her continual coming.” And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God vindicate his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will vindicate them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man comes, will he find faith on earth?” (Luke 18:1-8) Another example is the Lord’s parable of the persistent widow who appears before a judge to ask for justice "Though I neither fear God nor regard man, yet because this widow bothers me, I will vindicate her, or she…