Queen Esther was about to risk her life to plead before the king on behalf of her people, the Jews. Alone inside the palace, she had no one to turn to for support. In her anguish, she prayed fervently: "Help me, who am alone and have no help but You...Help me, who am alone and have no one but You, O Lord" (Est C:14, 25). Esther knew God was with her in her loneliness.
A few hours before Jesus was arrested, He told His disciples that they would completely abandon Him, "leaving Me quite alone" (Jn 16:32). Then He declared to them: "Yet I can never be alone; the Father is with Me" (Jn 16:32).
Paul was arrested for preaching the faith. He tells us: "At the first hearing of my case in court, no one took my part. In fact, everyone abandoned me...But the Lord stood by my side and gave me strength" (2 Tm 4:16, 17). Paul knew God was with Him.
God said: "It is not good for the man to be alone" (Gn 2:18). God's plan is for His disciples to operate in pairs (Lk 10:1) or in Christian community. However, there may come "a time" in our lives when we are not only "far from" the fellowship of others (Eccl 3:5), but totally without human support and consolation. In those times particularly, we must know beyond a doubt that Jesus is Emmanuel, God-with-us (Mt 1:23). We are never alone. Jesus assures us: "Know that I am with you always" (Mt 28:20).
| PRAYER: | Father, teach me to constantly rest in Your presence. |
| PROMISE: | "Ask, and you will receive. Seek, and you will find. Knock, and it will be opened to you." –Mt 7:7 |
| PRAISE: | Bed-ridden Martha prays many rosaries a day for her family members, living and dead. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College