“The disciple is not superior to the teacher;
the fully trained disciple will always be like his teacher. ” Luke 6:40

Thanks be to God we have been given another way, a better way, a life-giving way even, of living through life’s instability and conflict. The one who turns to Christ with total abandonment will find refuge in the God who “who even at night directs my heart”.

We see this in our ancestors in faith who “from one generation to the next” knew that the most important thing was to live in relationship with Jesus.

It is only in this divine embrace that we avoid being trampled under by daily demands and conflicts. Even when under attack from our enemies, the Lord is our only refuge.

And this confidence brings us to the heart of our faith. The disciple of Jesus Christ is the one who in every moment takes up the cross and follows.

The life of the successful disciple is not measured by an absence of suffering and conflict. These realities are as inevitable for us as they were real for Jesus.

The disciple of Jesus finds joy not in simple avoidance of pain and tension, but in remaining in intimate relationship with Jesus in the midst of every challenge and demands of daily life.

And all this happens for the disciple not only throughout every day, but “even at night”