In every age, O Lord, you have been my refuge — Psalm 90:1

Mass readings: 2 Peter 3:12-15,17-18 / Mark 12:13-17 

The Hard Work 

When I was not yet 14, I went off to a Catholic seminary. My pastor had dutifully asked me why I wanted to become a priest. I answered without hesitation, “To convert people to the Catholic faith.” He didn’t much like that reply, saying that he had perhaps made only a handful of converts in all his years. My pastor was a lot like St. Boniface (d. 754), whom we honor today. Yes, Boniface was about “converting” people, but even more he was about the plain, hard work of reforming the Church to what Jesus envisioned. It was thankless, painful, bewildering — but essential. 

We are asked to do the same. To follow Jesus is to follow the way of the cross. 

Prayer: St. Boniface, we ask you to pray for us as we do the hard work of being Christian.