St. Paul in the first reading uses the word encouragement at least 9 times.
"God of all encouragement, who encourages us in our every affliction, so that we may be able to encourage those in any affliction with the encouragement with which we ourselves are encouraged by God."
There is a whole lot of encouragement going on in one sentence.
If only there was that much encouragement in life, in us, in the church, in the world.
When I read this passage I think of another passage from Acts 23:6-11. Paul is being rescued from a mob that wants to kill him. He is being held in a compound, a prison. While he is there getting ready for his own death the scripture reading follows, "The following night the Lord stood by him and said, "Take courage..."
This is what encouragement means. It means to stand by one's side in order to lift up, give strength, to help carry a burden.
"Lead on me when you're not strong, I'l be your strength, I'll help you carry on."
Jesus stands by our side, hidden but forceful, throughout life helping us carry on. How often He has carried our load, unknown to us. In the end we will only then discover how little we had to endure and much Christ stood by us.
In the gospel of John Jesus tells his disciples, "Take courage, I have already conquered the world." (Jn 16:32-33)
St. paul reminds us it is God who accomplishes all things through us. It is his strength.
May we return the same encouragement to others and truly be sons of encouragement that is sons of God.
scripture for memory:
"God of all encouragement, who encourages us in our every affliction, so that we may be able to encourage those who are in any affliction with the encouragement with which we ourselves are encouraged by God."
Quote of the day
"Atlas! O my God, if there are so few to bear the cross, there will only be few to adore thee in eternity" St. John Vianney
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