Have you ever stopped to think how long basic training is for our military personnel? Most branches of service have a nine-week basic training program. At the end of this period, the young men and women are full-fledged soldiers. Additional training may be needed for specialized fields.
We, on the other hand, must go through basic training our entire earthly life in order to gain the kingdom of God. Yet, we have a cheering squad praying for us 24/7. As members of the Catholic Church, we believe in the “communion of saints.” These are all our brothers and sisters on earth, in heaven and in purgatory. “…since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus…” (Hebrews 12:1-2)
As we begin this new year, may the Holy Spirit guide us in our pilgrimage as we discover or rediscover, whichever the case may be, of the ‘gems’ of our Catholic faith.
