Acts 14:19-28 / John 14:27-31
If we are looking for a realistic principle in life so that we live our life accordingly, then how about considering this: Life is difficult.
And the sooner we accept this principle of life, the sooner we will be able to come to terms with life and the difficulties that we face in life.
But as much as it is quite obvious, that life is difficult, we may wonder why can't life be a bit easier and rosier.
But life being difficult shouldn't come as a surprise for us, because in the 1st reading, Paul and Barnabas has this to say to the disciples: We all have to experience many hardships before we enter the kingdom of heaven.
They said this put on fresh hearts into the disciples and to encourage them to persevere in the faith.
Those may not be very profound or motivating words but nonetheless it is the truth, and those words also have a spiritual dimension to it.
Just as Jesus suffered and died on the Cross to save us and bring us to heaven, but our sufferings and hardships we must believe that we are making our journey to heaven.
And let us also put fresh hearts and encourage others in their sufferings.
Let us help them to find their way to heaven through their own hardships and sufferings.