The second reading at Mass today includes a famous verse from the end of St. Paul’s letter to the Phillippians: “I can do all things in him who strengthens me.”

I think this verse is often misinterpreted when taken out of context. When you read it IN context, you understand that St. Paul is saying that whether he was been in want or his worldly needs have been abundantly supplied, God’s grace has not been absent from his life.

He’s not saying that if you have faith, you are guaranteed to find worldly success. He’s not saying that if you have faith, you won’t still struggle with your temperamental weaknesses.

He’s saying that whatever happens in your life, God will offer you the grace to get through it spiritually, and to grow from it spiritually, and he will keep in you in supernatural faith, hope, and love even if (and especially if) everything else falls apart.

He’s saying that a man or woman of real faith can weather the storms that come from the changing seasons of life.

So don’t let anyone lie to you and say God guarantees fame, or fortune, or “happiness,” or contentment in any worldly sense. He only guarantees the Cross–and the joy that comes from it.