Very few people are called to give up everything as St Paul was in order to follow Christ. Sometimes, we hide behind this and feel that we don’t have to give up anything in order to be followers of Jesus.

This is not true. All disciples and friends of Jesus will find themselves faced with tough decisions about their Faith. Jesus made no bones about it - His disciples have to be prepared to take up their cross and, if necessary, give up the things that will distract them from the Way he asks them to follow.

Sometimes the decisions can be excruciatingly hard. They may cost us a job - if  we see that it would require us to do something we know is wrong. They may cause us to have to break off a relationship because it is jeopardising a marriage. They may cause us to face ridicule because what we believe does not fit in with current thinking.

Small wonder that given such choices - many people take what feels like the easy way out - and turn away from their Faith.

It is not for us to condemn such decisions - but rather to challenge ourselves.

What do we do to help people who are facing these hard decisions?

How do we support those who have made the right decision - but who have found it agonising to make?

How do we love those who have made the wrong decision and keep the way open for their longed-for return?

Above all, how do our lives show that we too are still “running the race” - that we are often struggling to keep our sights on the prize that awaits us?