Monday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time
St. Paul endured many hardships in his missionary work, and he accepted these hardships because he knew the Lord Jesus and how he had accomplished our salvation. Paul was a great Pharisee before his conversion, studying the Law and practicing Judaism with precise adherence to the point that he persecuted the first Christians for straying from their religion. In meeting Jesus, however, he recognized that he could never accomplish his own salvation, no matter how strict he was on himself or how well he knew the Law. For we are all sinners, and none of us is capable of balancing out the evil we have committed. Jesus appeared to St. Paul and revealed this truth to him, humbling him and deterring his quest to destroy faith in Christ.
Likewise, St. Paul called on those he evangelized to put aside their own desires and to endure hardships so that they might be united through their suffering to Jesus. Our Lord did not have to embrace the cross for our sake but chose to do so out of love. In imitating him, we grow closer to our Savior and make his salvation visible to others.
Reflection by Fr. Victor Schinstock, OSB
Posted in Articles for Ordinary Time, Daily Reflections