The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1916-02-12
GIFT OF ENDURANCE
What Paul Meant by Long-SGf-
ferinq That Is Fruit of the
Spirit.

suffering. v. %.
Do not misunderstood St. Paul:
this is no dream of blessings that
might be real in better world than
this; it is a vision of things as they
are for those in whom the Lord Christ
lives; it is promise for as many as
receive him. The Spirit is here, he
works in all who are led by him, who
are the sons of God.
The fruit of the Spirit is life divine,
God in us, Gods image expressed in
human wills, thoughts, words and
tempers. In so far as any created
being may bear the image OF the d.
vine; as the God-Man Is, so may we be,
so must we pray to be in this actual.
tangible, visible world. The love which
glories in giving. the JOY which Is life's
fullness and can flower from out OF
the very heart of pain, the peace with
self, and man, and God that issues
from conflict manfully sustained
these are all of god. Godlike, and our
Father, who has taken humanity for
his child, will raise it into true SON
ship by enriching it with these the
fruits of his inspiration and indwell-
ing
| know of no English word that
fully embodies the meaning Of the
Greek original Long suffering" is
too passive; it suggests merely the
doggedness that takes blow after
blow and still holds on. | want a
broader. stronger. more active word;
long mindedneSS would almost serve,
If | might coin. The writer of the
Second Epistle of Peter would teach
them that if the mills of God seem
to grind slowly it is because to him
a thousand years are as one day; he
lays long plans, not willing that any
should perish; his long mindedness is
our salvation-all time is his. and he
measures it against the eternal years.
He is long minded over our sins; and
If evil dominates the world in appar-
ent triumph. yet in that strange simi!-
itude Of the unjust judge our Lord
teaches that he v.niicates the right in
his time Shall not God avenge his
chosen who cry unto him day and
night and his purpose waits long over
them?"
Long -mindedness" is the power to
go on, day after day, and one day at
time, in the strength Of distant
hope. THE farmer hath long minded
ness, blowing his best today; the sea-
sons move slowly. from the former to
the latter rain. but the harvest comes
in the end Be We also long-minded;
stablish your hearts"
The fruit Of the Spirit is longsuf-
fering. Our Lord himself embodied
and enjoined all that his apostles
taught-of patience, OF far-sighted
courage, of logged loyalty to the days
men, kept pace with their slowness.
forgave till seventy times seven; en-
dured as seeing him who is invisible,
and for the hope that was set before
him endured the cross; and he be-
queathed to his church this very gift
of endurance and far-reaching vision:
1T is not for you to know times or
seasons, but we shall receive power.
when the Holy Ghost is come upon
you" TIL is the gift we must ask
for, and may have today. Our nation
and empire need it, and you can do
no better service to our great cause
than by asking God, one by one, to.
keep you steady and brave and long
sighted in the dark day.
Be steady in judgment, in faith;
and be long suffering j. prayer. You
should be at the front night and
morning and at MONDAY; and when
ever a vacant moment gives you
space for thought turn it to account
for those who are fighting or watch
ing, in weal7 tedium. in pain 4
wounds, or in the agony Of death for
you.
The frui: of the Spirit is long-suf-
fering. 1t is seen to be so in the he
roes who suffer and die. and in those
not less heroic who give what costs
them more than death would cost. Let
1t be seen also in US who are called
but to wait, and endure. and hold on,
steady in judgment. in faith and in
prayer, till the dawning of the better