In today’s first reading, one cannot help but be in awe of early Christians’ strength of character and their stamina in clinging to their faith. Even with threats of death and torture from all quarters, they persevered. How were they able to support each other in those turbulent times? What gave them strength to go on? God must have been in their midst giving them all the love and support they needed to get through difficult times.
Looking around you, you would think a Christian’s life should be easier. The truth is the Evil One has become craftier in his relentless attempts to convert us into unbelievers. He uses our society with the help of media to turn us slowly away from the peaceful embrace of God.. We might not even be aware that we are slowly leaving God and our faith behind in pursuit of the world. Mother Theresa said, “Everybody today seems to be in such a terrible rush, anxious for greater developments and greater riches and so on, so that children have very little time for their parents. Parents have very little time for each other, and in the home begins the disruption of peace of the world.”
Maybe it is time to slow down and look around you. Where are you now in your life? Are the people around you needing your love and attention? Where is God in your life?