I will do all through Him, with Him, in Him.
Through Him: Of myself I am capable of only easy things. As someone once said, "I can accomplish only a very little, and this little I do badly." At any rate, if there is question of a difficult task, no matter what its nature--perseverance in prayer through aridity; generosity in Apostolic work despite ill-success; efforts in regard to charity despite the irritation of certain persons--whatever it is, I am always too quickly winded.
Have I acquired sufficiently the habit of leaning on God, of asking Him for strength? After all, does He not permit my weaknesses, my failures, for the sole purpose of inciting me to a more frequent recourse to Him and to a greater humility?
With Him: The grace of God is with me. The grace of God accompanies me. And what does that mean? If I am living in love, grace is not merely something which comes to me from God, a help, an aid from without, but it is the very Presence of the strong God within me. With God all mine, dwelling in me, of what should I not be capable? Have I a sufficient practical conviction in the everyday run of life that God is with me; that all I do, we both do, He and I? I carry my weakness, but He--He is strength!
In Him: If I understand the great doctrine of Incorporation with Jesus Christ, not only am I able to live on God, but I can live in God. As a living branch of Christ, I am but one with my good Master. He is the Vine, I am the branch. In fact, St. Augustine dares to say "I am not only a member of Christ, but I am Christ." Christus sumus, We are Christ, exactly as the grafted branch constitutes a living extension, a living portion of the tree. The strength of the branch comes from the vigor of the trunk. As a member of Christ, I have at my disposal the very strength of Christ.
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Adapted from Meditations for Religious
by Father Raoul Plus, S.J. (© 1939, Frederick Pustet Co.)
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