Why Would It Be Different?

If I told you there was something that would make you healthier, stronger, more fit – would you be interested?

Of course you would.

What if I said there was something that would bring you deep joy, lasting peace, real fulfillment?

You'd want that too.

Here's what's interesting about how our minds work: we easily recognize the things we want. What we conveniently forget is that good things come with a price.

Want to be fit? That costs you late-night snacks and comfortable mornings in bed. Want to be healthy? That means choosing salad over pizza and water over soda. We know this. We accept this. We don't expect our bodies to transform while we sit on the couch eating chips.

So why do we expect our souls to be different?

Why would growing in holiness be easy when nothing else worthwhile is? Why would the path to heaven require less of us than the path to a six-pack?

Don't misunderstand – I'm not saying our hard work earns heaven. That's pure gift. But we do have our part to play. And our part? It's work.

Getting up to pray when you'd rather sleep in. Choosing forgiveness when anger feels better. Putting the phone down to really listen to your kids. Going to Mass when you don't feel like it.

The destination is worth everything. But let's stop pretending the journey doesn't cost us something.