November 20, 2020

Your reward in heaven will make up completely for all your pain and suffering.      - St. John Bosco

In other words, I think St. John Bosco is saying we need to keep our eyes on the prize; the prize of heaven! His words are timely for us today. We don’t need to look very far to realize that this is not heaven. Many of us are experiencing pain and suffering. In fact, I think it is safe to say each of us experiences pain and suffering to greater or lesser degrees.

We all carry a cross, or more than one cross, on our journey back to the Father. As we carry the crosses of our lives and experience the pain and suffering those bring, we must always remember we do not walk alone. God has given us His Son Jesus, His holy Word, and His very Spirit to help us in our daily walk. I say it all the time and I don’t think we can hear it often enough; we are not alone. By virtue of our baptism, we have the power of our great God with us and in us at all times.

Today, let’s remember Jesus’ words to us, “…If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” (Matthew 16:24-25) Let us keep our eyes on heaven, embrace our cross this day, put others needs before our own, follow where He leads, and find life in Him. Thanks be to God!

Jesus, I trust in you.


©Mary V. Pribbenow