Don't start your day any faster than the way you intend to finish it".


“But the one who endures to the end will be saved” (Mark 13:13).

As I read these words of Christ, I remember a story of a young apprentice who had a summer job in rail tracks maintenance. On the first day of his job, the foreman told him what to do and how to do it and the young apprentice started working with full energy. By that evening he was tired and his hands had blisters. On the second and the third day he wanted to put out the same level of energy but he felt that he was going slower. On the third evening, an old man who had worked on those tracks all his life called the young apprentice and gave him the following advice: "Don't start your day any faster than the way you intend to finish it". 

Our journey of faith is kind of the same. Sometimes we experience some initial excitement with the "achievements" we make in our spiritual life. Jesus however, makes it very clear that it is not about occasional excitement that we experience. Our journey of faith is about enduring until the end. In the process, this journey has the power of shaping and transforming us. In today's reading St. Paul outlines that transformation with the following contrast: "For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, despicable, hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared,  he saved us" (Titus 3:3-4).

May God's salvation be visible in every believer's life for the glory of God.

Yours,
Fr. Nareg

Read the Word of God. Today's readings are: Proverbs 15:33-16:7; Hosea 14:9-10; Titus 3:3-8; Mark 13:9-13

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