When you are our strength we are strong

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This is my Son, the Beloved; he enjoys my favour. LISTEN TO HIM.

Matthew 17:5.


It is well established that the Second Sunday in Lent, the Gospel is that of the Transfiguration. This is a marvellous moment for Jesus and his chosen Apostles Peter, James and John. Given that we have this Gospel early on in the season of Lent the words, “Listen to Him” have a strong message for us as to what we are expected to do in this fruitful and holy season. We each have a responsibility to listen to the Word of God and to live our lives according to his word. As the Psalmist tells us, “Your word is a lamp to my feet, a light on my path.” (118, 105). When we listen to God and let his word shape our lives we gain both strength and direction as to how we should live our daily lives as sons and daughters of the one Father, who is in heaven. St. Augustine in the following quotation tells us of a God who shelters us, gives us strength and hope.


“O Lord our God, let the shelter of your wings give us hope. Protect us and uphold us. When you are our strength we are strong, but when our strength is our own we are weak. Let us come home to You O God, for fear that we be lost.”


However, if we are to find hope and strength in God we must be attentive to his word and therefore we need to be people of prayer. That is both private prayer and prayer in common. Pope Benedict XVI described the Transfiguration as a “prayer event.” The Transfiguration was an event with a small community of the Apostles present.  Coming together as a community to pray is a good way to ensure that our praying is not neglected. Our private prayer feeds into the prayer of the community and community praying calls us at various times during the day to be at prayer together and so we are drawn  back to the Lord.


A final thought from St. Augustine.

“Come Lord! Wake us up! Call us back to You! Set our hearts on fire and draw us to You. Breathe your fragrance on us and let us taste the sweetness of Your presence. Let us love You. Let us run to You.”


A meditation written by Fr Ian Wilson, parish priest at Clare Priory, Suffolk 109908-one-heart-and-one-mind-intent-upon-god


Follow the Order of Saint Augustine (O.S.A.), Province of England and Scotland  

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A prayer of St Augustine

Blessed are those who love you, O Lord, and love their friends in you and their enemies because of you.

Thank you! 138 people prayed

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Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer everyone. Col 4:6

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