Pain and Glory

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/111016.cfm) reminds me that pain comes before glory. 

They say “No Pain, no Gain” In a lot of things, if not all, this is true. Pain is usually an indicator of us improving, of us stepping out of our comfort zone and becoming better. Practice is painful. You have to push yourself beyond your limits to improve. Studying and preparing is painful, you have to do more than what you need to so you can be a better version of yourself. As some would say, "Pain is weakness leaving your body".  Even Jesus went through this painful process.

Jesus experienced pain to give us glory.

In the gospel, it says that he needs to suffer greatly and be rejected first before attaining glory. He needs to suffer first before attaining back his glory so he can give us the glory as his beloved children. That’s how much God loves us. He was willing to die and suffer for us, so we can be saved and have eternal life with us. However, no slave is greater than his master. And just as he experienced pain and rejection for us, so too will we, the children of God, experience these things before we can be with him in paradise. Nothing comes easy, but when we know the greatness of the result, the suffering becomes worth it. 

There are times in life we suffer and experience challenges. There may be times we want to just give up and surrender. We are reminded today to just focus on the prize, to focus on God and his eternal reward for us as we remain faithful to him. Let us remember that even Jesus had his share of suffering before triumphing. Let us allow God to strengthen us amidst the challenges in life. Let us gladly go through pain, having faith that the glory that awaits us is well worth it.

May we get strength from Christ and what he did for us, and remember that just as we experience pain for Him, we too will experience glory with Him. 

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another chance to love and serve you. Thank you for the reminder. Thank you for your love, for experiencing pain and rejection for me. Thank you for seeing me more than I see myself. Lord, sorry for the times I lose faith. Sorry for the times I give up when I am in pain. Sorry for not focusing on you. Lord, help me be like you. Help me be willing to go through suffering and pain for God’s kingdom. Give me the strength and the will to go on, to continue loving you and serving you despite the pain I experience. Use me Lord to bring your kingdom to others. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

Ps

See related reflections:

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2013/11/no-easy-way.html

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2013/09/suffering-christ.html

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2011/11/keep-working.html

http://mysimplereflection.blogspot.com/2014/11/nothing-comes-easy.html 

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November 10, 2016
Memorial of Saint Leo the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church
Lectionary: 494

Reading 1 Phlm 7-20

Beloved:
I have experienced much joy and encouragement from your love,
because the hearts of the holy ones
have been refreshed by you, brother.
Therefore, although I have the full right in Christ
to order you to do what is proper,
I rather urge you out of love,
being as I am, Paul, an old man,
and now also a prisoner for Christ Jesus.
I urge you on behalf of my child Onesimus,
whose father I have become in my imprisonment,
who was once useless to you but is now useful to both you and me.
I am sending him, that is, my own heart, back to you.
I should have liked to retain him for myself,
so that he might serve me on your behalf
in my imprisonment for the Gospel,
but I did not want to do anything without your consent,
so that the good you do might not be forced but voluntary.
Perhaps this is why he was away from you for a while,
that you might have him back forever,
no longer as a slave but more than a slave, a brother,
beloved especially to me, but even more so to you,
as a man and in the Lord.
So if you regard me as a partner, welcome him as you would me.
And if he has done you any injustice
or owes you anything, charge it to me.
I, Paul, write this in my own hand: I will pay.
May I not tell you that you owe me your very self.
Yes, brother, may I profit from you in the Lord.
Refresh my heart in Christ.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 146:7, 8-9a, 9bc-10

R. (5a) Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD secures justice for the oppressed,
gives food to the hungry.
The LORD sets captives free.
R. Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD gives sight to the blind.
The LORD raises up those who were bowed down;
the LORD loves the just.
The LORD protects strangers.
R. Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The fatherless and the widow he sustains,
but the way of the wicked he thwarts.
The LORD shall reign forever;
your God, O Zion, through all generations. Alleluia.
R. Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Alleluia Jn 15:5

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I am the vine, you are the branches, says the Lord:
whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Lk 17:20-25

Asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come,
Jesus said in reply,
“The coming of the Kingdom of God cannot be observed,
and no one will announce, ‘Look, here it is,’ or, ‘There it is.’
For behold, the Kingdom of God is among you.”

Then he said to his disciples,
“The days will come when you will long to see
one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it.
There will be those who will say to you,
‘Look, there he is,’ or ‘Look, here he is.’
Do not go off, do not run in pursuit.
For just as lightning flashes
and lights up the sky from one side to the other,
so will the Son of Man be in his day.

But first he must suffer greatly and be rejected by this generation.”