H-O-L-D F-A-S-T in Homily

Readings for the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

From Deacon Greg:

No matter what the conditions on the track, or the competition in the field, Secretariat never gave up or gave in.

St. Paul might consider him the very definition of being persistent – whether it was convenient or inconvenient.

And it all came down to his heart.

You might say the same thing about living a life of prayer.

To be a prayerful person requires more than just discipline or a sense of devotion. It’s more than just following a routine. That’s a good beginning. But a rich and rewarding life of prayer – one spent in frequent conversation with God – demands something more. It also demands a resilient and generous heart. Not so much physically — but spiritually. It requires a heart that doesn’t give up. One that can withstand weariness, and discouragement. A heart that can endure disappointment, and prayers that seem to go unanswered, and hardships that sometimes can be difficult to bear.