Homily from the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time. It can be very difficult to follow Jesus Christ because the culture pushes us away from doing so. On top of that, our own struggle with sin can make it seem easier to avoid Christianity because of the tension caused from within us. Both of these types of tension can make us feel isolated and even more willing to give up. Something that will be of great help is our call to live as a family of believers who offer words of encouragement and accountability to each other. As one family, we will flourish.