Revelation 7:14
"These are the ones who have survived the time of great distress; they have washed their robes and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb."
Sometimes being a Christian can get pretty tough. I am constantly aware of the chorus of voices in the world that want to discourage our faith or make us hide it away. I look at so many people who don't have any religion at all° and they seem to be doing just fine. Then that little lie from the Devil creeps in that says "What's the point? You're wasting your time. Give it up and live a little easier." Occasionally I'm tempted to believe that lie. But then I look at the saints.
I love this line from Revelation that we hear in today's first reading. Being holy, being a saint, isn't easy. The "great distress" isn't an exaggeration. It's a reference to a period of persecution in the Church when Christians were killed for professing faith in Jesus Christ. That great distress wasn't just back then. It happened many more times and continues to happen today. These saints, whether they were killed or persevered in virtue to the very end, encourage us to keep going. All of us are called to die to ourselves every day because we know who we belong to. We are called to something higher, to be saints, to live as God made us to.
Get to know our seminarians! Today's reflection was written by:
Zachary Brasseur, Pastoral Year
Home parish: St. Paul's, St. Petersburg
Did you know...
Zachary is a native of St. Petersburg and a graduate of Saint Leo University. He is serving his pastoral year assignment at St. Timothy in Lutz.
Pray with us for the men and women discerning the priesthood and religious life. To pray for our seminarians by name or to find out more about the Diocese of St. Petersburg vocations office, click here.
