Saint Gertrude Parish - Lasne

Saint Paul is very realistic. He knows that life is made up of joys and sorrows, that love is tested when difficulties increase, and that hope seems to vanish in the face of suffering. Yet, he writes: “We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance produces character; and character produces hope” (Rom 5:3-4). For the apostle, tribulation and suffering are typical conditions for those who proclaim the Gospel in contexts of misunderstanding and persecution (cf. 2 Cor 6:3-10). In these situations, we perceive a light in the darkness. We discover how evangelization is sustained by the strength that flows from the cross and resurrection of Christ. This leads to the development of a virtue closely linked to hope: patience.