WordWordofof

LifeLife

October 2009October 2009

“By standing firm you will win true life for yourselves” (Lk 21,19)

“Standing firm”.The original greek word from which these words are

derived is rich in content: it means patience, constancy, resistance, trust.

Standing firm is necessary and indispensable when we suffer, when tempted, when prone to

discouragement, when enticed by the seductive pleasures of the world and when experiencing

persecution.

I expect that you too have found yourself in at least one of these situations and have experienced that, without

standing firm, you would have succumbed. Perhaps you have sometimes given in. Maybe now, at this very

moment, you find yourself immersed in one of these painful situations.

So what should you do?Start again and... stand firm.

Otherwise the name ‘Christian’ is not suitable for you.

You know

that whoever wants to

follow Christ

must take up their

cross daily.

They must love

suffering,

at least with their will.

The Christian vocation

is a call

to perseverance

The apostle Paul

demonstrated

the authenticity

of his Christianity by

his perseverance.

He was not afraid

To put it on the

same level as

miracles.

If you love the cross and stand firm to the very end,

you will follow Christ who is in Heaven, and therefore

be saved.

“By standing firm you will win true life for yourselves’

It is possible to distinguish two categories of people: those who hear the invitation to be true Christians, but this invitation falls on their souls like a seed on rocky

ground. There’s lots of enthusiasm, like when you set fire to straw, but afterwards nothing remains.

Then there are those who welcome the invitation, just as good soil receives the seed. The Christian life springs up, grows,

overcomes difficulties, resists storms. These are the ones who stand firm and... ‘by standing firm you will win true life for

yourselves’.

Naturally, if you want to stand firm, it is not enough to rely only on your own strength. You will need God’s

help. Paul calls God: ‘The God of steadfastness’.So you must ask him for perseverance, and he will give

it to you.

If you are a Christian you will never be content merely with being baptized, or with doing an occasional act of worship

or of charity. You must grow as a Christian, and every growth in the spiritual life, can only come about in the

midst of trials, obstacles and battles.

There are people who really know how to stand firm: those who love. Love never sees obstacles or difficulties or

sacrifices. And perseverance is love that has been put to the test.

Mary is the woman of perseverance.

Ask God to enkindle love for him in your heart, and perseverance will come to you as a consequence, in all

the difficulties of life, and with it you will win true life for yourself.

“By standing firm you will win true life for yourselves’

But there is something more.Perseverance is contagious. The person who stands firm

also encourages others to go right to the end.Let’s set our sights high.

We have only one life and what’s more, it’s short. So let’s take a deep breath and stand firm from day to day, facing one difficulty after another to follow Christ... and we will

win true life for ourselves.

“Word of Life”, monthly publication of the Focolare Movement.Text by Chiara Lubich, June 1979

Graphic design by Anna Lollo in collaboration with Fr Placido D’Omina (Sicily - Italy)

“By standing firm you will win true life for yourselves’