strength

Be vigilant at all times
and pray
that you have the STRENGTH
to escape the tribulations that are imminent
and
to stand before the Son of Man
   Luke 21:36

May the Lord
make you increase and abound
in love for one another and for all
so as to STRENGTHEN your hearts
to be blameless in holiness
before our God and Father
at the coming of our Lord Jesus
with all His holy ones
    Thessalonians 3:12

strength is not one of the qualities I think of as 'holy'
it is not something the I have consciously tried to develop in my life

and as I think of how I would make myself 'strong'
praying
and
increasing in love
would probably not be the regiment I would follow

but maybe praying is the deep knee bend of the spiritual world
and loving is the repetition
required of the heart
to grow strong
to stand blameless in holiness
before God at the coming of the Son of God
with
all His holy ones

I can't even imagine...

will I stand
will I tremble and fall
in fear
in awe

I never want to be the proud pray-er in the synagogue
thanking God for not making me like everyone else
while the Lord God is listening to the silent prayer
of the sinner in the corner
asking only for mercy

what is the difference between approaching
His throne with confidence
lifting our heads
standing before Him
being strong in Him

and WALKING humbly with Him


EVERY ADVENT REMINDS US
THAT GRACE-AND THAT IS
GOD'S WILL TO SAVE MAN-
IS MORE POWERFUL THAN SIN
    Blessed John Paul II