“Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7
Many people think they can handle whatever life throws at them on their own. They believe that everything they have in life, they earned themselves. It is through their hard work and effort that enriches their life with treasures and it is through their strong spirit that they will endure and carry through even the most difficult days.
“I don’t need prayer, I am strong enough on my own.” Basically, this common statement of today’s people is simply saying “I don’t need God, I am a god.”
To these people, those who need to pray and go to church, lean upon and look to God are weak.
As a Christian we know better. We know that when “I am weak, I am strong” – 2 Corinthians 12:10. We know that when we give all our prayer in supplication, true humility before God, we are strengthened. When we bend our knee in humility to God’s power, we are given super powers. When we realize that every gift, the tiniest to the grandest, is from God, we become truly rich. And, when we understand that God is God of every moment, suffering and dying for our salvation, we realize His great love. And, in this love, we see God as Who He is, our Father. It is at this point that the puzzle comes together for us into a clear work of art. It is in this clarity of spirit that we learn trust and surrender. No situation however Dore can take away our joy. We may be brought low in tears and suffering but we will never lose our joy.
To me, John Wayne was always the epitome of a tough man. I grew up watching his movies that showed men being heroes. So, this picture is so meaningful. To see John Wayne kneeling before the Blessed Mother and showing this humility and prayerfulness to his son is powerful.
Do we have the strength of spirit to be truly heroic men and women of God by bending out knee to Him? More so, are we heroic enough to do what the what the demons couldn’t? That is to humbly accept the Queenship of Mary? It is at these points that the “peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”