Every day, we face countless choices, some we must embrace, others we must reject. What shapes our path toward holiness is how faithfully we choose those right ‘yeses’ and ‘noes’. To follow Christ Eucharistic is to discern with gratitude, saying yes to what draws us closer to him and no to what leads us away.

This is not easy, yet we are called to learn well and to become constant, not ambivalent, in what drives our decisions. Full of gratitude, we acknowledge what Christ has given us: His presence, teachings, care, love, and compassion. He has given us his Yes.

“For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was proclaimed to you by us… was not ‘yes’ and ‘no,’ but ‘yes’ has been in him. For however many are the promises of God, their Yes is in him; therefore, the Amen from us also goes through him to God for glory.” (2 Corinthians 1:18–20)

As we grow consistent in our persistence through our relationship with the Holy Spirit, we become better able to discern rightly. Our use of consistent, faithful choices shapes our quest toward holiness. We learn to persist in our yes to love, compassion, and mercy. We learn to persist in our no to hatred, apathy, and anger. To be blessed with this consistency and perseverance may take the length of our whole lives, but we need not despair, because every new day brings with it a new opportunity, and this we can embrace, the hope of a new race we can run.

“Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after the other.” (Walter Elliott)

So let us say yes to Christ’s invitation. Yes, to love. Yes, to faith. And yes, to walking with Him in hope, one step at a time.

Let us pray:

Lord, let us be ever aware of your presence among us. Help us to walk with you in this world, always giving our assent to your promptings for love, mercy, and compassion. Help us to reject the temptations that open us to hate, anger, and apathy. May we grow persistent and consistent in You. Amen.