“O God, strength of those who hope in you,
graciously hear our pleas,
and, since without you mortal frailty can do nothing,
grant us always the help of your grace
that in following your commands
we may please you by our resolve and our deeds.”
Just as the Lord guides and protects the growth of plants great and small from their times as tiny little seeds, so, too, He helps and guides His people to rely on Him in the midst of their frailty. There are many things that help us to recognize our frailty: sickness, natural disasters, the needs of those we love. Oftentimes these reminders of our weakness can lead to despair. But we pray to the Lord who is the strength of those who hope in Him! He hears our prayers and always offers His gracious assistance to us so that we can do what needs to be done to serve Him well.
This week, may the Word of the Lord serve to sustain us in crying out to Him in our need. Then we will see that the Lord does not abandon His People, but rather seeks to be united with us in charity, whether we are home or away. Though we may not have much, let us offer all that we have to serve Him. Then we will see in our own lives how he takes what is but the size of a small seed and makes it flourish like the cedars of Lebanon.