We confidently approach the throne of grace to receive Christ’s mercy and find grace in our time of need.
Sometimes when we enter difficult seasons of life, we may question (if not abandon) God for at least a time. But
these readings describe that pain, shortcomings and sufferings are not outside of God’s understanding of our
lives. Through His life, death and resurrection, Jesus promises compassion and consolation for our present
sufferings and promises us new life.
So, as we long for greatness and heavenly rewards, Jesus reminds us alongside James and John that service (with its sufferings) is the way to heaven. There has been plenty of suffering in the last two years for most of us, and as the Body of Christ, we might do especially well to ask God how we can bear it with grace and offer our service to bring relief, compassion, and kindness to a hurting world right now.
Jesus, our Lord and Saviour, teach us to see possibility in pain. May we look for your mercy and grace in the most challenging places in our lives. And may we walk with others through their pain on the way to new life. Amen.
Taken from the CCCB Reflection
