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TODAY’S WORD…

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…He said to me,

"My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness."

Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses,

so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

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– 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)

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THE SAINTS’ REFLECTIONS…

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St Thomas explains that…

God sometimes permits certain kinds of evil in order to draw out greater good:

for example, in order to protect people from pride – the root of all vices –

He sometimes allows His chosen ones to be humiliated by an illness, or a defect, or even by mortal sin,

in order that "the person who is humbled in this way might recognise that he cannot stand firm by his own efforts alone.

Hence it is said in Romans 8:28, ‘We know that in everything God works for good with those who love Him’

– not of course that God seeks the sin but [the sinners] turning to Him".

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St Jerome: "The Lord is good,

because He often does not give us what we desire,

in order to give us something we would prefer."

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St Alphonsus: "We have to glory in the knowledge of our own weakness

in order to acquire the strength of Jesus Christ, which is holy humility

[without] giving in to lack of confidence, as the devil wants, and falling into more serious sins."

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St Josemaria Escriva: "We have to cry out ceaselessly with a strong and humble faith,

‘Lord, put not your trust in me. But I, I put my trust in You.’

Then, as we sense in our hearts the love, the compassion, the tenderness of Christ’s gaze upon us (for He never abandons us)

we shall come to understand the full meaning of the words “My power is made perfect in weakness”.

If we have faith in our Lord, in spite of our failings – or rather, with our failings –

we shall be faithful to our Father, God;

His divine power will shine forth in us, sustaining us in our weakness."

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PRAYER…

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Jesus, my Lord, guard my heart from discouragement in tough times

and guard it from arrogance in good times.

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Thank You Lord for giving me the grace to recognise my weaknesses…

for encouraging me to place them at the foot of Your cross…

for reassuring me that by keeping You by my side and in my heart I will be delivered from evil.

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Lord, help me stand firm, strengthen me with Your salvation,

and fill me with faith, with Your truth, Your righteousness and Your Spirit.

Amen.

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