True Strength
but he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." I will all the more gladly boast of my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities; for when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9,10 RSV
O Lord,
is there any strength that counts
unless it is from you?
Is there any power that is true power
unless it comes from your hands?
Remind me, Lord
that at these times I feel so weak,
so uncertain,
so unable,
so frail,
that it is not I
who accomplishes,
it is not I who controls,
it is not I.
I offer up to you my weakness,
my pain,
my insecurities,
my pretense of control,
my desire for power,
for admiration,
for success.
Be thou my strength,
that the labor I do
is for you,
by you,
through you.
Amen.
O Blessed Mother,
O Lady of Consolation,
be with us
when the moments seem so dark,
and the anger builds
and we want to do
what we cannot do.
O Mary,
You too know what it is like,
to see your beloved
tortured,
beaten,
murdered
without being able to do more
than wait,
pray,
and give it all to the Father.
When our heart breaks,
intercede for us
that we too
will have the patience to wait for the Lord's time,
the grace to bear the load we are given,
and the ability to give him our resounding YES.
Amen.