Thursday of Week 9 in Ordinary Time

Remember, St Paul writes, my Gospel, for which I am suffering.
But the word of God, he says, is not bound.
Suffering but still believing.
Reaching out for what is sound.

I endure everything, he insists, for the sake of the elect.
That they also may obtain salvation.
The elect but not the select.
But still capable of jubilation.

If, he ends, we have died with him,
The statement is trustworthy.
We shall live with him.
We will endure, we are worthy.