Saint Thomas Aquinas Thursday - 1
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Today’s readings don’t sugarcoat anything. St. Paul is clear. Following Christ isn’t glamorous. It’s a grind.
“We are treated as dying, and behold—we live; as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing.” (2 Cor 6:1–10)
Ministry isn’t about comfort. It’s about perseverance, love, and integrity when everything around you falls apart. Paul names beatings, hunger, slander—but also patience, purity, and the power of God. If your faith walk feels hard, don’t panic. That’s exactly what real discipleship looks like.
In Matthew's Gospel (5:38–42), Jesus reconciles justice with mercy by instructing us to go further. Turn the other cheek. Hand over your cloak. Walk another mile.
He’s not telling us to roll over. Jesus is showing us a better kind of strength. Not retaliation, but redemption. This is love that surprises people. It’s mercy that disarms anger. It’s generosity that breaks the cycle of hurt.
You were made to reflect Christ. This requires a life lived in such a way that people see the Gospel in how you forgive, serve, and love. Don’t wait for an ideal moment. Paul says, “Now is the day of salvation” (2 Cor 6:2). Don’t settle for safe. Be strong in the Spirit. Love deeper, forgive quicker, and serve harder—even when it costs.
Today, love someone who’s hard to love. Go one mile further than you planned. Give a little extra. It’s not about being nice—it’s about being Christ.
Mike Schramm lives in southeastern Minnesota with his wife and seven children. There, he teaches theology and philosophy at Aquinas High School and Viterbo University. He earned his MA in theology from St. Joseph's College in Maine and an MA in philosophy from Holy Apostles College. He is also the managing editor of the Voyage Compass, an imprint of Voyage Comics and Publishing, and co-hosts the Voyage Podcast with Jacob Klatte.
