Sometimes giving up might seem the easy way forward. Our faith says otherwise. When I think about people in the gospel who persisted, I realise that their reward was healing and new life.

In John 5:5-9 we find a paralysed man at a pool in Bethesda, struggling to get to the water for a healing miracle. As the gospel reads, it was only the first person who made it to the water at a certain time who would be healed. Although the man persevered, he was never successful. Jesus saw his struggles and asked the man if he wanted to be healed. Jesus did heal him with just a word, and gave him new life.

In Luke 8:43-48 we find a woman who suffered with chronic bleeding for twelve years. Even though she persevered in getting help, no one was able to heal her, and she had exhausted her finances. Hearing about Jesus and his ability to heal she decided to push through her pain. All she needed for healing was to touch the hem of Jesus’ garment. In reaching out and having faith in Jesus, she received his comfort and healing.

These two stories teach us that no matter what we are going through God knows us intimately and wants to provide comfort, healing and hope. Sometimes our hope can seem distant but by persevering in looking for ways to come through those times, and by trusting and keeping our faith in God we can be transformed and blessed.

And so, we come to Christmas. When Caesar Augustus issued a decree that there was going to be a census of the known world, people had to return to their homelands to be registered. Joseph, therefore, had to register in Bethlehem. He, and a very pregnant Mary, travelled from Nazareth to Bethlehem (around 150km on foot). I can’t even begin to imagine the difficulties that Mary had to persevere through having to travel that distance. For someone so young, she had put the ultimate trust in God. Not long after they arrived in Bethlehem, it was time for Mary to give birth to Jesus (this name means Emmanuel – God is with us). Mary continues to be a wonderful role model of perseverance to Christians around the world. She did not give up even though when so many times she was challenged and suffered as the mother of Jesus. She persevered with the will of God in her life, in her support of Jesus, and ultimately at the foot of the cross.

Of Mary, Pope Benedict XVI stated:

            ‘…we join our voices to the many generations who praise the Virgin Mary and call          
             her Blessed ... Her example of faithful perseverance in doing the will of God and her  
             heavenly reward are a source of courage and hope for all of us’ [1]

Read more encouraging words of perseverance:

For prayer – Luke 18:1

For faith – Hebrews 11:13

For doing right – Galatians 6:9

For walking the path God has for our lives – Proverbs 4:25-27

For finding strength in following Christ – Isaiah 40:31 

For persistent hope - Psalm 27:14

For God’s salvation – Mark 13:13

[1] Angelus, 15 August 2010, Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary | BENEDICT XVI

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