After you have suffered a little April 25

Prayer

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will; That I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him Forever in the next. Amen. --Reinhold Niebuhr

Study

For the Feast of St. Mark the Evangelist, today’s scriptures are located here to study: http://www.usccb.org/nab/042506.shtml

“The God of all grace who called you to his eternal glory through Christ Jesus will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you after you have suffered a little.” (I Peter 5:10)

How successful would Peter be as a copy writer in an advertising agency today if the Church were the client? When ads and mass mailings promise to grow our hair back, make us look and feel younger and thinner, and when all our problems will be solved by one act, Peter lays out the truth. “You WILL suffer a little.” Just like Christ did for us in his Supreme Divine One Act.

For that suffering, we get the sacramental God of grace who will restore (baptism or reconciliation), confirm (confirmation), strengthen (Eucharist or the sacrament of healing the sick), and establish (marriage or Holy Orders) us in the world.

Not a bad deal but not a deal but I doubt that most of modern society will rush to join. We prefer cushions on the pews. This letter and reality lesson from Peter also reminds me of the lesser known second verse of the popular Serenity Prayer above – “accepting hardships as the pathway to peace.”

Action

Are we really ready to accept those hardships? What hardships do you need to accept? What suffering does Peter promise you?

Think of someone you know who needs some extra support. Grant them a little serenity by paying them a visit. If they live too far away, why not write them and offer Palanca? Who says Palanca is just for weekends anyway?