Sometimes we just need a bit of a reminder that, even though

life has its challenges, the hope of the Gospel isn’t about this life. The hope

of the Gospel is in the life that God has planned for us, living with Him in heaven.

Saint Paul knew this. He knew the true struggle of every Christian especially

in a world that at the time was much less tolerant of Christians that today’s

world. Eve depended on her understanding of the benefit of eating the apple

rather than on God, and we know what happened to Eve? Saint Paul is trying to

remind us, “The transcendent power belongs to God and not to us.” The Church,

through the entire life it presents to us, is trying to help us depend upon God

rather than ourselves, and that takes endurance. It won’t be easy. That much we

know, but it is worth the struggle.