From today’s reading...
It makes me happy to be suffering for you now, and in my own body to make up all the hardships that still have to be undergone by Christ for the sake of his body, the Church, of which I was made a servant with the responsibility towards you that God gave to me, that of completing God's message, the message which was a mystery hidden for generations and centuries and has now been revealed to his holy people.” Colossians 1:24-26
To emulate Jesus and walk in His footsteps means to suffer.
He did not come to remove suffering, but to redeem it, to show us how it’s done, to give meaning to our suffering, which only comes about by willingly accepting the crosses in your life and carrying them without complaining, both for your own good, and for the good of the world.
“But Wes, how my suffering help the world? Aren’t you being dramatic?”
Let me ask you something. How does shirking your responsibilities help the world?
What if everyone blew off their responsibilities today?
The power grid supervisor took a nap.
The 911 dispatcher just watched movies while at work.
The grocery store manager slept in and didn’t open the store.
All first responders went fishing.
All nurses went to the beach.
All auto mechanics walked into the woods to do yoga.
For just 24 hours.
No biggie, right?
I mean, they have valid excuses.
They’re tired. Their kids are sick. They have a headache.
They’re worried about their 401k. They have high blood pressure.
The health of their parents is failing. Their kids are running with the wrong crowd.
They’re going through a divorce.
They have big, heavy crosses to bear, and they deserve a break, right?
RIGHT?
Wrong.
Pick up your cross and...
Stay the course.
Keep the faith.
Endure.
Now go sell something.
