Mark A. Escobar

Thorns and Thistles: Pathways to Discipleship Mark A. Escobar

As a form of sharing without shortchanging the essentials or vitality of Christ%u2019s teachings, our faith-inspired vision of being men and women in the world with others, shapes those elements of our deeply held values. These, however, allow us to grow and put our lives into perspective. In addition to that, it is also an attempt to reflect upon God's presence as the continuous thread that unites us in his calling.

While meal time may provide us with the opportunity to identify God's many blessings and express our gratitude for his unconditional love, so do reflections in these homilies may give us some ideas. They provide ideas and invite us to reflect on certain issues pertinent to the Word of God. Amid the secular spirit of the day there flickers the light of the sacred and spiritual.

Unbeknownst to some of us, for instance, the theme of promise runs through the Scripture from God's promises to biblical patriarchs to the promise of the New Jerusalem in Revelation. In a similar vein, reading through these homilies we are drawn to connect our faith to the gift of promise that God has revealed to us. We are pilgrim people, marching through time but anchored in eternity. The way to achieve growth in depth, new clarity and focus in our mission as a Church, is through our efforts to communicate with people who keep their eyes focused on the future. As it says, "Never lose heart. If you wish to receive what God has promised, you must have the patience to do his will" (Hebrews 10:35-36; Lk 21:19).