“I can do all things in him who strengthens me.”
These words of St. Paul are among the most familiar and encouraging verses in Scripture. Yet they are sometimes misunderstood. When Paul says, “I can do all things in him who strengthens me,” he is not promising that life will always be easy, that every prayer will be answered as we hope, or that those who trust in God will never experience adversity, sorrow, or disappointment.
Paul himself knew hardship. He experienced rejection, imprisonment, suffering, uncertainty, and loss. His strength did not come from having a life free of difficulties. His strength came from knowing that he was never alone in facing them.
That is an important distinction for us as well. Faith does not mean that we will never have difficult days. There will be moments when we are disappointed by people we love, when circumstances do not turn out as we hoped, when illness or loss touches our lives, or when we simply wonder how we will find the strength to keep going.
The promise of our faith is not that we will be spared every hardship. The promise is that God will be with us in the midst of it. The Holy Spirit is the presence of God dwelling within us – the Spirit who strengthens us when we are weak, comforts us when we grieve, gives us courage when we are afraid, and reminds us that even in our darkest moments, God has not abandoned us. Nothing we encounter is more powerful than the presence of the Holy Spirit within us.
Perhaps this is what St. Paul wants us to understand. “I can do all things” does not mean, “I can control everything.” It means, “Whatever I may face, I can face it because Christ is with me.” There will be times when we feel strong and times when we feel anything but strong. There will be days of joy and days of sorrow. Through all of them, we can place our trust in the Lord who strengthens us.
So, whatever this season of life may bring, let us remember: We do not have to face it alone. Christ is with us, and His Holy Spirit is within us. And with that presence, we can meet whatever lies ahead -not because we know exactly what tomorrow will bring, but because we know Who will be with us when it comes.
NEW VIDEO SERIES – This week, the New York State Catholic Conference launched a new video series, “Disagree Without Disrespect” featuring Archbishop Ronald Hicks of the Archdiocese of New York. In the series, Archbishop Hicks reflects on the role Catholics can play in today’s increasingly divided public discourse and offers guidance on how to engage in difficult conversations while remaining faithful to Catholic values.
“As Catholics, we are given by the Lord himself, by the Church, beautiful and wonderful moral teachings. And those teachings that help form and guide us should be shared with others.”
The series emphasizes that civility does not mean avoiding difficult issues, but that Catholics are called to participate in public life while recognizing the dignity of every person, including those they strongly disagree with. “Disagree Without Disrespect” is part of the New York State Catholic Conference’s ongoing effort to encourage Catholics to be active and thoughtful participants in public life. The series can be found at the New York State Catholic Conference Social Media sites. https://www.facebook.com/nyscatholicconference, https://x.com/NYSCatholicConf, and https://www.instagram.com/nyscatholicconf.
ANNIVERSARY YEAR BEGINS NEXT MONTH – Since its founding in 1952, St. Rose of Lima has been a spiritual home to generations of families. In 2027, we will celebrate the 75th Anniversary of our parish and all those who have shaped St. Rose through the years. Join us on Sunday, November 15 at the 12:00 PM Mass as we officially begin our Anniversary Year, followed by a Ministry Fair celebrating the many ministries that make up our parish community. Keep an eye on our social media for more Anniversary celebrations and information to come!
Peace!
