2nd Week in Ordinary Time - Tuesday - The Remedy for Discouragement

In my Sunday homily, I reflected a bit about discouragement. Discouragement, that feeling that my hard work is wasted, that the forces of evil are too great, can be paralyzing.  Injustice, the injustice experienced by those who love God and wish to serve God, and are hated for it, and persecuted for it, can be a terrible source of discouragement. 

The opening line from our reading from the letter to the Hebrews today offers an important remedy for discouragement. “God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love you have demonstrated for his name by having served and continuing to serve the holy ones.”

The author of the Hebrews epistle is writing to a group of converts from Judaism who have already begun to experience some serious resistance in their living our the Christian faith; and yet, for now, their faith has endured, they’ve resisted faithfully writes the author, “to the point of shedding their blood” for the Gospel. But knowing that the long, drawn-out hostility from the world, can wear on the strongest Christian soul, so he writes this letter to embolden, and encourage.

And he writes today, God does not overlook your work, your sufferings, your labors. God sees it, and will reward it. Likely, not in this life. But certainly in eternity, we merit a greater share in heavenly reward, through our service to God. The soul that suffers much and endures much and serves much and demonstrated much love shall be rewarded much in heaven.

In times of discouragement, the promise of heavenly reward, helps to fend off the sluggishness and inactivity that can begin to creep in when we face resistance.

Sometimes the forces that oppose us are so great, it is like we are being tossed about like a small ship on the waves of a terrible sea, and so the Hebrews author evokes that powerful symbol of the anchor. “This we have as an anchor of the soul, sure and firm, which reaches into the interior behind the veil.” The anchor are the promises of God. And his promises are not empty. He is no liar. His promise of life and glory is validated by the resurrection of Jesus. He is risen, just as he said he would. 

So, another remedy for discouragement, and really the only remedy, is to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus. Through prayer and service and penance with our eyes and hearts fixed on Him. For, He is the light that shines in the darkness. He is the promiser and the fulfillment of the promise. He is the one who suffers with us and the reward for those who suffer. He is the source of justice, the distributor of justice, he is justice itself. 

May the hope of eternity with Him banish our discouragement and spurn us on to persevere in our holy labors for the glory of God and salvation of souls.

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For a deeper openness to God’s will, readiness for service, attentiveness to those in need, and peace in our world and our hearts.  Let us pray to the Lord.

For a new springtime of justice: that all people of good will may work together against the increasing threats to civility, religious liberty and human life.  Let us pray to the Lord.

For those who struggle because of addiction, discouragement, mental illness, chronic sickness, unemployment, or ongoing trials of any kind:  that the new wine of God’s grace through Christ will bring them consolation and peace.

For the repose of the souls of our beloved dead, For the deceased members of our family, friends, and parish, for the souls in purgatory and for…N. for whom this mass is offered.

O God, our refuge and our strength, hear the prayers of your Church, for you yourself are the source of all devotion, and grant, we pray, that what we ask in faith we may truly obtain. Through Christ our Lord.