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Dearest God our Father, on this sacred feast of our Patron St. John Marie Vianney, I pray not only for us your priests but most especially for everyone going through so many trials and tests these days as we near another series of lockdown due to a surge in COVID-19 infection.
I pray, O God, for more perseverance in our faith, hope and love in you so that we may remain committed to you like that Canaanite woman in the gospel: a pagan yet believed so much in Jesus, crying out to him as "Lord" and "Son of David" to heal her sick daughter (Mt.1521ff); most of all, like St. John Marie Vianney, teach us to persevere in life, in serving you no matter how great are the odds against him when he lived at a most unfavorable time for the Church in France after a bloody revolution that sowed strong anti-clerical, anti-Church sentiments among the people.
Perseverance. From the Latin root perseverare that means to continue with one's commitment despite the lack of any success, surviving trials and no matter what is the result, whether we succeed or not in our goals, we still emerge a better person, a winner. Perseverance as perseverare in Latin means doubling the efforts in keeping up with the doubling of sufferings and trials we face, of continuing to work hard even after you have already worked so hard, in fact so tired but would not refuse to surrender and stop because you are so committed, truly a winner in the Lord!
Like St. John Marie Vianney: despite his difficulties learning and mastering the Church language of Latin during his time, he persevered in the seminary until he was ordained priest; as Cure de Ars or pastor of the insignificant village of Ars with its 250 inhabitants, he persevered in preaching and hearing confessions that were so appreciated by everyone from all parts of France and Europe because of his life of simplicity and humility. And like that Canaanite woman after being challenged by Jesus, saying "It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs", she said, "Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters" (Mt. 15:26-27).
Let us not imitate the men sent by Moses to reconnoiter the land of Canaan that instead of instilling the virtue of perseverance on the people, they discouraged them from taking possession of the land you were giving them, giving up everything they have worked for and sacrificed; most of all, rejecting your gift that eventually, you denied them entrance into the Promised Land for forty years.
Let me persevere in loving you, Father even if I am a sinner through the mercy and salvation in Jesus; Let me persevere in following your will through the Holy Spirit even if I stumble and fall so often; Let me persevere in serving you dear Lord like St. John Marie Vianney even if I am self-centered, always seeking rest and rewards. AMEN.
