The spiritual life is a journey of constant struggles and trials. We experience moments of great hardship as we overcome our challenges and difficulties, such as judging others or losing our patience with loved ones. If we fall, we get back up and keep on going in order to live the virtue we seek. We need to do this with a humble heart. In the end, our constant effort is that which will enable us to persevere and come out on top. Jesus is counting on us to choose him above all else. He wants to give us all that is good, but he wants us to cooperate with his grace.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus is calling us to a higher standard of living. He calls us to imitate him. He tells us that we will reap what we sow. God is truly just with us, and he wants more than anything to give us what is good. His heart’s desire is to shower us with His graces and blessings, but He needs our cooperation to do so. He honors our freedom, but if we choose to do the opposite of what He wants, what is just and good, we shall receive our due of punishment. It is up to us to respond to God generously and with a humble heart.

More than anything, we should love Jesus above all else and have this thought reflected in everything that we say and do. Our responsibility is to form our spiritual selves by imitating Jesus with greater effort and love. Many times it will be difficult to see the good in our brothers and sisters, but Jesus calls us to do just that and to see him in them. Let us ask Jesus today to help us to continue growing in this virtue.