Study: Name a time when your endurance was tested to complete a project.  What kept you going?

Pray: Call upon the Lord for strength!  Consider the many ways God has touched and blessed your life.

Serve: We all can help lighten the load of others.  Who can you help today?

Mass Readings – 20th Sunday of the Year

In the book of Hebrews we hear how living our faith can be compared to running a race.  A cloud of witnesses (the Angels and the Saints) are cheering us on, and we set our eyes on a great prize at the finish line.

Yet we know that a race can be filled with difficulty.  Our endurance is tested, an injury may occur, an accident or change in circumstances can overturn our best plans.  Both Jeremiah and Jesus experienced these types of trial and anguish, reminding us that it happens in our lives as well.

So where do we find our strength?  The answer comes from the Psalm Response: Lord, come to my aid!  In our need we call upon God for the grace we need to face our challenges and keep our eyes fixed on the Kingdom of Heaven.

May we look to the Lord for what we need today, and even if we fall…trust that Christ will pick us up and set us on the path that leads to life.