the end of quitting time
"I put no value on my life if only I can finish my race and complete the service to which I have been assigned by the Lord Jesus." —Acts 20:24
In order to persevere in living the faith, serving the Lord, praying always, and loving our spouses, families, and brothers and sisters in Christ, we need grace. No matter how dedicated and disciplined we are, we don't have what it takes to persevere in the most important aspects of life.
Thankfully, the Holy Spirit will continue to work through our Baptisms and Confirmations to grace us to make any sacrifices necessary in order to persevere. In the Spirit, we consider our lives of no importance if only we can finish the course the Lord has assigned to us (Acts 20:24). By the power of the Holy Spirit, we will die, if necessary, to finish the Lord's work for us (see Jn 17:4). The Holy Spirit takes a bunch of quitters, who justify their quitting, and He makes them absolutely abhor quitting and zealously commit to persevering.
The Spirit transforms all our desires by giving us a strong desire to live in the deeply personal love of our Abba (Father) (Gal 4:6) and of Jesus our Lord (see 1 Cor 12:3). In this Trinitarian love, perseverance is a higher priority than avoiding more pain. When we are confirmed in Trinitarian love, we are firmly committed to persevere in all the most important aspects of life.
Prayer: Father, I will quit sinning and thereby never quit doing Your will.
Promise: "Eternal life is this: to know You, the only true God, and Him Whom You have sent, Jesus Christ." —Jn 17:3
Praise: Within a year of St. Charles Lwanga's martyrdom, the number of converts in Uganda increased from 800 to 3,000.
Reference: (If you missed starting the Pentecost Novena, start now. If you need help, order our tape Pentecost Novena on audio AV 103-1 or video V-103.)
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Ralph J. Lawrence, December 29, 2002
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, December 31, 2002