In today’s Gospel reading from Mark 4, Jesus tells a couple of parables, both of an agrarian nature. In the first He talks about how a seed grows, yet we know not how. Why? It is the mystery of life, and that God alone is the giver and taker of life. The second is a familiar one about a mustard seed. The smallest of seeds becomes a great plant. Much like the Church, and hopefully much like our faith.
We hear much in the Bible about endurance. Jesus spoke often about the need for it. We hear more in today’s first reading from Hebrews 10. “You need endurance to do the will of God and receive what he has promised.” What is the consequence of not having endurance? Not good. “We are not among those who draw back and perish, but among those who have faith and will possess life.”
This is truly a matter of life and death. If we fall back, if we turn away from God, if we fail to endure on the path that God has set out for us, we will die. Not just physical death, but spiritual death. Yes, I’m talking about hell. The world is constantly trying to draw us away from God. The pull is strong. But God is stronger. Let’s endure to the end, that we may possess life.
Father, you know how weak we are. Give us a firm purpose of amendment and the strength to endure in faith to the end. Amen.
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