TURN TO THE STRENGTH
Queen Esther's episode in the Bible is a typical theme of faith. The Bible is full of such crucial situations - Moses before Pharaoh, David before Goliath or David before Saul, Elijah before the whole band of prophets of baal, Jeremiah before his own people who wanted to kill him... they were all situations like that in which we find Esther today! The simple orphan girl become queen, taking over the corrupt powers of Persia for the sake of the oppressed Jewish people. In all these situations the message is the same, as Jesus points it out in the Gospel: when you think of the good of the others and not your selfish ends, when you are intent on doing to good to the suffering, the oppressed, the needy and the downtrodden, when you want to stand by God and God's people, you will be faced with hurdles heavy and high. But turn to your strength which lies just a cry away, turn to your strength which is there ever present for you to take note of... turn to God and stand firm in faith; for the battle belongs to God (1 Sam 17:47).
