He got up and entered the city

“In those days, some Jews from Antioch and Iconium arrived and won over the crowds. They stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. But when the disciples gathered around him, he got up and entered the city. On the following day he left with Barnabas for Derbe.” (ACTS 14: 19-20)

St. Paul reminded us on Sunday that: “it is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.” He is a perfect example—“they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. But when the disciples gathered around him, he got up and entered the city.” The next day “he left with Barnabas for Derbe.” Never tired? Never persecuted? Never exhausted? Of course, many times he was. But he was always ready “to undergo many hardship to enter the kingdom of God.” And we have excuses for not practicing our marriage rituals or for not praying or not reading a Bible even 5 minutes.

“Christ had to suffer and to rise from the dead, and so enter into his glory.” (Gospel Acclamation)