When we read the stories of great leaders, we find that most of them went through severe hardships. Nelson Mandela, for example, spent twenty-seven years in prison before he became president of South Africa. Trial is the necessary training camp for creating great leaders.
As we read through Acts of Apostles these days, we are told of the many trials that St. Paul endured. In the city of Lystra he and Barnabas were greeted with unsurpassed enthusiasm. Witnessing the miracles they performed, the people went so far as to want to honor these two men as gods. Then the tables suddenly turned. A few rabble rousers from a nearby town came in and incited the people to stone Paul. After being stoned, he was dragged outside the city. His disciples gathered around him, Paul came back to life and returned to the city.
Later, when he returned to Antioch, he reported to that church what had happened during his missionary tour.
“(Paul and Barnabas) strengthened the spirits of the disciples (in Antioch) and exhorted them to persevere in the faith, saying, ‘It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God.’”
Paul had just gone through unbelievable hardships including being stoned to death. He learned through experience that hardship is not only a possibility for Christians but a necessity, and not only a few hardships but “many.” Such trials are prerequisites for entering God’s Kingdom. We remember that Jesus taught his disciples that the gate to life is a narrow one and the road is rough.
We recall the words that St. James wrote (James 1:2-4):
“Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials; for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. And let perseverance be perfect, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
He exhorts us not only to endure trials as a necessary preparation for entering the Kingdom of God, but, beyond this, to “consider it all joy.” Enduring present hardships builds up spiritual strength that we might perseverance in the faith until the end.
St. Peter in addressing the Church said (1 Peter 4:12)
“Beloved, do not be surprised that a trial by fire is occurring among you, as if something strange were happening. But rejoice to the extent that you share in the sufferings of Christ…”
Being children of the Western culture that values comfort, convenience and the easy life, we consider it “strange” when hardship comes our way. We expect that there is some miracle drug or new product that will take away our hardships and make us more comfortable. Contrary, however, to the beliefs of our culture, hardships and even persecution are part of our Christian fare.
With this in mind, we pray, not that God will remove our present hardships, but that he will give us the courage to deal with them, grow stronger as we endure them, and give us the grace to rejoice that we are honored to share in the sufferings of Jesus Christ.
Paul, James, and Peter give us the same message. It is a tall order and rubs against the grain of our natural selves. Nonetheless our goal is the enter fully into the Kingdom of God. And so, we gladly pay the price.
Everyone called to follow Jesus is destined for greatness. God did not invest the blood of his only Son so that we might be mediocre Christians. As we face present hardships, let us remind ourselves that God is helping us be all that we can be.
