Courage

The Scriptures demand that we be bold and courageous. Saint Thomas Aquinas defines courage as follows: "To remove any obstacle that withdraws the will from following the reason." Courage allows us to take risks and make sacrifices. God takes courage and its lack thereof very seriously. Are you a courageous person? Many people actually walk away from their God-given faith because they lack courage. The parable of the sower from last Sunday's Gospel gives us a great example. Some people experience initial joy with their faith, but they lack staying power. When trials or persecution come their way they fall away. Christ tells us in the Scriptures that many people fall away from their faith because they are cowards.

We are all born with the capacity to exercise courage. In fact, we are capable of exercising every virtue, but we must pray. When we meditate on Christ's Sorrowful Crowning with Thorns courage is the virtue we beg God for. Christ showed courage often in the Scriptures, particulary when He had to withstand the criticism of the Scribes and Pharisees who hated Him. Let us ask Christ for courage. Let us never stop asking.

Sincerely in Christ,

Rev. Jeffery A. Fasching