In dangers

“Five times at the hands of the Jews I received forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I passed a night and a day on the deep; on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my own race, dangers from Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers at sea, dangers among false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many sleepless nights, through hunger and thirst, through frequent fastings, through cold and exposure. And apart from these things, there is the daily pressure upon me of my anxiety for all the churches.” (2 COR 11: 24-28)

Who we are to say that we have difficult days? If we compare our comfortable lives with St. Paul’s missions we are really lucky. Some of these experiences are still common also for us: “sleepless nights, through hunger and thirst, through frequent fastings, through cold and exposure.” Today we can be very grateful that we can participate in the same difficulties when we are in mission.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.” (Gospel Acclamation)