Courage Plus Commitment

We all have a tendency to shrink from that which poses a difficulty or which frightens us.
Numerous Christians never develop their life in Christ to its destined potential precisely because
they do not bring themselves to confront the arduous when God’s will leads in this direction.
Christian courage or fortitude is that virtue which disposes us to face maturely the difficult in
Christ’s service that certainly depend from our own inner experience.

We should not think that courage is usually exercised concerning matters of great moment. As with
the exercise of all the Christian virtues, courage customarily finds its expression with in the prosaic
framework of everyday life. To confront properly the rather uneventful duties of our vocation day in
day out demands fortitude. Many times we let the current of discouragement flow down in our veins
and we easily got discouraged when things not go according to our will. Instead of going forward,
we make two steps backward. We should remember that “gold is tested by fire”. All states of life
are confronted with this challenge. To evade the challenge is to thwart our growth in Christ.

At times Christian courage must be exercised concerning matters of great moment. An example is
the decision involving one’s state of life. This type of decision can demand the greatest fortitude in
certain instances. Some Catholic parents oppose the religious or priestly vocations of their children.
Those who experienced the opposition know the great suffering involved and the courage which is
necessary to follow God’s will faithfully.

There are numerous occasions which demand more than ordinary courage. It can be a question of
choosing a particular work. It may be a question of severe temptation, of dryness in prayer or a
seeming inability to pray at all, of an apparent darkening of faith. Whatever form the difficulty may
assume, the dedicated Christian realizes the need of fortitude. He knows that growth in the Christ-
life is not always a smooth development.

No matter how great the difficulty which may face us, we have to believe in this capacity of
strength which God has instilled in us and act accordingly. St. Paul gives us an example of how
the Christian is to confront arduous:

“ We are only the earthenware jars that hold this treasure,
to make it clear that such an overwhelming power comes from God and not from us. We
are in difficulties on all sides, but never cornered; we see no answer to our problems, but
never despair; we have been persecuted, but never deserted; knocked down, but never killed;
always wherever we may be, we carry with us in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life
Jesus too, may always be seen in our body.” ( 2 Cor:7-10).

 

Province of Alessandria