"Do not lose heart, even if you should discover that you lack qualities necessary for the work to which you are called. He who called you will not desert you, but the moment you are in need he will stretch out his saving hand. Strive to be faithful to that which God has called you." (St Angela Merici).
"Remember the days past when, after you had been enlightened, you endured a great contest of suffering. At times you were publicly exposed to abuse and affliction; at other times you associated yourselves with those so treated. You even joined in the sufferings of those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, knowing that you had a better and lasting possession.
"Therefore, do not throw away your confidence; it will have great recompense. You need endurance to do the will of God and receive what he has promised.
"For, after just a brief moment, he who is to come shall come; he shall not delay. But my just one shall live by faith, and if he draws back I take no pleasure in him. We are not among those who draw back and perish, but among those who have faith and will possess life." (Hebrews 10: 32 - 39).
Friday 27th January 2023 in the 3rd Week in Ordinary Time is the feast of St Angela Merici, (1474 - 1540), Virgin. Italian. She founded the Ursuline Order, the first women teaching order in the Church. St Angela believed that the formation and education of Christian women is society's greatest investment.
Convinced of this truth, St. Angela Merici founded the Company of St. Ursula, [Ursulines] a secular institute devoted to educating young women to be Christian wives, mothers, teachers, and catechists. The Ursulines are flourishing today in their teaching ministry.
Our key Scripture for today is from Hebrews 10: 32 - 39. Specifically, we focus on this injunction:
"Therefore, do not throw away your confidence; it will have great recompense. You need endurance to do the will of God and receive what he has promised."
The Christian life is a warfare. A daily battle with the forces of evil. In this battle like real life battles, there are mountain-top moments and there may be plenty of valleys. How can you fight to win?
#1. Your confidence of victory comes from the word of God. Forget it and you are doomed.
#2. The soldier of Jesus Christ must be imbued with a hardened spirit of endurance. Nothing worthwhile has ever been achieved without peserverance. The enemy will be coming at you again and again. As one battle ends, he may begin another without pulse.
But your persistence will break the resistance.
#3. Remember that your brethren all over the world are fighting the same battle. (1 Peter 5: 9; 1 Corinthians 10: 23).
You will emerge from the valley stronger and renewed with deeper conviction in:
#1. The just person lives by faith. Faith in the promise of God which can never fail.
#2. A firm conviction that the gracious and mysterious will of God is the best thing for you always, everywhere and in everything.
Armed with this new knowledge, you resolve never again to neglect daily prayer, daily nourishment from the word of God. You commit yourself never to slacken in doing good to your neighbor.
Daily Bible Verse @ SeekFirstcommunity.com
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