The Pharisee Gamaliel, a wise and well-respected member of the Sanhedrin, speaks out forcefully in favor of the arrested followers of Jesus: “If this endeavor comes from God, you will not be able to destroy it.” Gamaliel urges, let us wait and see if this endeavor survives the obstacles it will face.
In a world of instant communication and ready gratification, we need to imbue our faith life with a wait and see approach––not waiting for miracles, persevering instead. Pope Francis reminds us, “God saves us in time, not in the moment.”
I volunteer helping to mentor boy scouts striving to achieve Eagle rank. Achieving Eagle requires a significant commitment over several years, a lifetime in a teenager’s mind. I often inquire of a scout, what obstacles did you face? The scout then describes the barriers and distractions he had to face and overcome on his path to Eagle.
In our faith life, we often face barriers––feeling stuck in a spiritual wasteland, disappointments, doubts. Today we pray for the grace of perseverance, perseverance in our saving walk with the Lord, everyday, until the end.
―George Penman Sullivan, Jr. is a Jesuit-educated lay leader who helped found Chicago’s Ignatian Volunteer Corps. He and his wife, Dorothy, live in Wilmette IL, and have four children and three grandchildren.