"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Phil 4:13)
I thought of this as I walked into Mass this morning and could see an elderly woman coming down the snowy sidewalk, slowing pushing her walker through the slush. She had come from the apartments on Woodward, a couple of block from the Church. The weather was cold and yet she was coming to Mass. What love and devotion she must have to weather the cold, risk slipping on the ice, and slowly, every so slowly, to get to Mass. And yet she did.
The power of that image stayed with me all through Mass. I watched as she walked up to receive the Eucharist in her frail hands and with a strength all her own, knelt in prayerful thanksgiving after receiving. Christ was the heart of who she was--her every gesture radiated that.
I also thought about the final paragraphs in the Diary of St. Faustina:
"Jesus answered me, "I want you to become like a knight experienced in battle, who can give orders to others amid exploding shells. In the same way, My child, you should know to master yourself amid the greatest difficulties and let nothing drive you away from Me, not even your falls."
"Most pleasing to me is this preparation with which you have received Me into your heart. Today, in a special way, I bless this your joy. Nothing will disturb that joy throughout this day..."
"You are a living host pleasing to the Heavenly Father. But reflect on this: What is a Host? A Living Sacrifice. And so?" (Paragraphs 1823-1825)
We all need to strive for the strength of faith of the woman who braved the elements to get to Mass, to receive Her Lord, to hold Him close to her heart. She knows the path to happiness and is willing to risk all to receive what He has to offer.
We are living in dangerous times. As Jesus tells Faustina, we need to be living hosts. Living images of Christ in the world. We need strength and He will provide. We are being called, like soldiers on the battlefield, to defend His Truth, His Church. We know the answer to the unhappiness and strife in the world is Christ. Much will be asked of us as we proclaim this message--but as Jesus left Faustina a question to contemplate--that question is ours as well..."And so?"
What is it He asks of us as we go forward in a world that is hostile to the faith? Please leave comments at the end of this post--your ideas will help to strengthen all of us. How do you gain strength to live your faith in bold ways?
Filling us with words to contemplate as we go out to enter the "mission fields", let us pray and reflect on the words of St. Paul in his letter to the Ephesians, writing to them to give them strength as he speaks to us as well:
Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm, therefore, having girded your loins with Truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the Gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. (Eph 6:10-17)
Amen!
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