Father Mike Schmitz

It's probably present, but I work with college students and I see this desire to be successful.

I see this desire to accumulate wealth, be the thing that just drives so many of our students from a life of prayer and from a life of service

to becoming distant and cold to the Lord because they're like, I'm gonna go, I'm gonna get after it, I'm gonna crush the day.

And instead of giving God their first fruits and pursuing that training and godliness is this pursuit after wealth, this pursuit after money, the love of money, the root of all evils.

And some by craving this have wandered away from the faith.

Then that's when Paul says, but you, man of God, shun all this.

Aim at righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.

And then bam, here's the line.

Fight the good fight of the faith and take hold of the eternal life to which you were called.

And this is so important.

Take hold of the eternal life.

to which you are called.

My brothers and sisters, you and I have been called to the eternal life.

So why not fight for it?

I mean, truly, here we are on day 357.

You've been fighting for 357 days.

You've been listening to the Lord's word for 357 days.

Take hold of the eternal life that God has in store for you, that he wants for you, that he wills for you, that he's given you in Christ Jesus and through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Fight for it.

This is the most precious gift