Scripture Reading
2 Corinthians 4:16-17
So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.
Reflection
The body ages, circumstances wear us down, and the outer life can feel like slow erosion. Yet Paul insists: the inner self is being renewed day by day. The hardships are not wasted; they are preparing something — an eternal weight of glory. This does not minimize suffering but reframes it within a larger story. Whatever you are walking through today, your inner life is not decaying with your circumstances — it is being renewed.
Prayer for Today
Dear Saint Jude, I ask you to pray for me for an increase in perseverance. You accepted poverty for the sake of the Gospel, were mocked, chased out of towns, and finally martyred. You did all this for our Lord's sake. I am sure my life has been more comfortable than yours, and I may never pay for the love of Christ with my own life. Why is it then that I find it hard to offer up my sufferings and to bear them patiently for a little while? O holy martyr, you who withstood all humiliations for the sake of the Lord, help me to stay strong for a little longer and come to my aid. Amen.
Amen.