Cyrus, King of Persia, declared war against the Assyrians. He wanted to encourage his soldiers to be strong and brave during the battle that he would soon lead them into. So, one morning, he led his men to a great forest. Walking among his ranks, he gave each man an ax, and then said to them all,

“My friends, this forest must be cut down today. Do not be dismayed by the number and size of the trees, but set to work with great energy, and you will easily accomplish it. As a reward for your labors, you shall tomorrow sit along with me at a magnificent banquet, and shall enjoy other pleasures I have in store for you.”

These words filled the soldiers with great determination. Before evening, all the trees were lying on the ground.

The next day, the soldiers received the promised reward. As they were enjoying the feast, Cyrus asked them what they now thought of the all the hard work and fatigues they endured when cutting down the forest the day before.

“We have forgotten all about them.” Answered the soldiers.

“Would you begin again tomorrow the same work on the same conditions?” asked Cyrus.

“Most willingly!” they all replied.

“Then tomorrow you must go forth to attack the Assyrians. You will overthrow them as easily as you did the trees yesterday. And when the battle is ended, you will taste the joys of victory. That will be a feast which will continue all your lifetime, and the riches which you will take from the enemy will be your own.”

These words animated the soldiers with great courage. They fought like lions against the enemy, and gained a magnificent victory.

It is much easier to do hard things when we see the reward in store for us at the end. These men could easily endure great hardships because they had a taste of the pleasures this poor world promised them - pleasures that, at most, would last until their death. Imagine what they would have done, if they had experienced a taste of Heaven! Those joys, which St. Paul tells us are beyond anything we can imagine, will be ours if we fight well, as those soldiers did.

Let us then, try very hard to do good works and make sacrifices this Lent. Sometimes it can be difficult to hold to our resolutions, but by remembering what rewards await us in Heaven, we can be strengthened to keep going; and if we pray and persevere, not only will we comfort Jesus and Mary during this penitential season by suffering with them, but we will also, like those soldiers at the victory feast, have the joy of sharing the happiness of Easter with them.