Holy Spirit of God, beyond afflictions and suffering, let me realize your help and hope ...

 
2 Corinthians 1:1-7

 
When we are in the thick of the storms or life, it is easy to forget that life exists beyond the winds of extreme change and the lightening streaks of fear, grief and rage exploding around and through us. And then we can so easily become seasick on the tossing waves  - let alone fearfully dark to match the cloudiness engulfing us.  But St. Paul - who faced innumerable and untold traumas and trials, and was afflicted by a ‘thorn in the flesh’ (2 Cor.12:7) and suffered snake bites, shipwrecks and stonings frequently during his journey as a Christian missionary – had come to know the secret of remaining not only grounded. Not only was he encouraged in the midst of the gales and tornados of darkness he experienced, but he was so Grace-full that he could say, Grace to you and peace from God our Father! As he put pen to paper to write to the Christians at Corinth. What follows in the second letter to the Corinthians is Paul’s wisdom regarding the relationship of afflictions and suffering to the Help – or ‘Encouragement’, or ‘Consolation’  - and divine Hope that is always present to us through the Holy Spirit of God. This is the same Help-Encouragement-Consolation and subsequent Hope that strengthened and sustained the holy joy of Mother Mary and all the Apostles in the first century Annos dei and that all Saints have discovered and experienced down through the ages since.  This same courage that Mary and Jesus used at the crucifixion is present to us – if we will only turn to the Lord and real-ize his work of Mercy in, and around, and through us.  When I am afflicted or suffering, will I have the presence of mind and spirit to seek the Encouragement and the Hope of God, so that I might Magnify and Praise the Lord God? Holy Spirit of God, beyond afflictions and suffering, let me realize your help and hope.
 
Taste and see that the Lord is good. Happy are those who take refuge in Him.  (Psalm 34:8 )  
 
You need not cry very loud: He is nearer to us than we think.       
Brother Lawrence, Practicing the Presence of God
 
Listen to You Are Mine  By David Haas
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Soli ad gloriam Dei
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