The Crucible (10/26/2023)

Yesterday was my grandson’s birthday. He has grown up so quickly. This year marks his 24th birthday. As I sat at my desk yesterday to send him a birthday text, I looked up into his eyes from his photo on my desk. I have a framed photo of him in his Marine uniform and next to it was his Crucible candle. As I re-read the words on the candle, I recalled again what he endured to become a Marine.

The Crucible, the final test for a recruit before earning the status of Marine is a 54-hour exercise where he walked 48 miles carrying his 45 pounds of gear and rifle, making it to 36 separate stations, problem solving along the way on less than 8 hours of sleep and with little food. They call it the transformative test. He will tell you that it helped him to realize just how much he is capable of when his heart is in it.

That candle, that “transformative” exercise stayed with me all day into the evening when I worked with 20+ high school students as they prepared for Confirmation. I kept asking myself if I or any of them be willing to undergo such hardships for our faith. And yet we are called to be ready to do just that. This morning, the gospel reminds us that accepting Christ and then living Christ in our world is a demanding journey if we take it seriously and walk it faithfully.

What would our world look like if all of us who call ourselves Christ’s disciples were willing to go the distance for Christ and for our sisters and brothers? What would our world look like if we were willing to help carry the burdens of others compassionately and lovingly along the way? What would our world look like if we opened ourselves to the transformative journey of being disciples, truly, wholly? What could the world become? What could we become?

Our world today is “a crucible.” It is a world wrought with severe trials and difficulties. Will we allow the fire of the LORD’s love that burns within us to transform us into instruments of His will, of His love, of His peace?

As we continue our journey, let us take time to consider our journey, to commit anew to enduring it in love, through love, for love itself. Let us open ourselves to the transformation that is possible when we walk with the LORD. He will never leave us; He will hold our right hand as we journey in faith, in hope, and in love.

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.