In today's first reading from Acts 18, Jesus comes to Paul in a vision and tells him, "Go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you." Words to live by, my friend. In the Gospel reading from John 16, Jesus analogizes the Apostles faith journey with childbirth.
Jesus says, "You will grieve, but your grief will become joy. When a woman is in labor, she is in anguish because her hour has arrived; but when she has given birth to a child, she no longer remembers the pain because of her joy that a child has been born into the world."
As men (and as a man myself), they could not fully understand that concept. But I can relate on a very small level. When I finished my first marathon, everything hurt. I remember thinking, "I will NEVER do this again!" But as the pain subsided, I thought of the joy I got from that accomplishment. So it can be with our faith. As we grow in faith in Christ, we'll think less about the painful things and concentrate more on the graces and blessings from God. Let's work on that today.
Father, help us to let go of pain, no matter how long we have hung onto it. May we rejoice in the good that the pain has brought into our lives. Amen.
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