The Church about to be born waits in obedience and prayer for the promised Spirit. The Apostles and some disciples, men and women, gather around Mary the Mother of the Lord, who guards and contemplates the mystery of her Son. She is, for all of them, the model of communion, peace, concord and docility to the Spirit.
St. Comboni was totally immersed in the mystery of Christ crucified. He wrote, "The omnipotence of prayer is our strength". The omnipotence he speaks of is the understanding of God's plan of salvation for him and for his undertaking, and the strength is what comes from carrying it forward. He lived on prayer ~ from his choice of vocation to other decisions, he adds often in his letters that they were "taken after much praying".
In this way he became for his followers the example and teacher of prayer, and of the value, the efficacy and the quality of prayer. St. Comboni was a child of his time, in the language and devotions that he used... so it is quite amazing to see his contemplation of and his closeness to the humanity of Christ, and the consequent familiarity towards the Holy Family ~ "I ask the counsel of the Lord, of Our Lady and of St. Joseph, and they have always helped". He saw in them people consecrated to the will of the Father and to the mission of salvation.
True strength flows not from our plans, but from faithful surrender to God’s will, nurtured in prayer and lived in communion with those who guide us toward Him.
