“For highly valued things are not obtained except at a high price.” — Saint John Chrysostom
Saint John Chrysostom was reflecting on a passage from the Gospel of Matthew. James and John’s mother comes to Jesus and asks that her sons be seated at His right and left in the kingdom.
Jesus responds: “Can you drink the chalice of which I will drink?”
He’s asking: Are you willing to pay the price?
Not just His followers then. His followers now, us.
Are we willing to pay the price for the kingdom of heaven?
Lent is a good reminder of this. The kingdom of heaven doesn’t come cheap.
We’re given opportunities throughout the liturgical year—in Lent and other seasons, but also in our daily lives—to pay that price.
To take up our cross, big and small.
Because that’s the price.
And it’s worth it. Not because the price is easy, but because what you’re buying is priceless.
Let us pray.
Lord, give us the courage to drink the chalice You drank, to pay the price You paid, to follow You all the way to the end. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Keep fighting the good fight. Our Lady of Victory, pray for us.
