# Give me strength: praying through advent
*2015-12-20*

> Bill Young reflects on the feast of Blessed Pope Urban V and explores the theme of relying on God's strength during the third week of Advent.

## The Legacy of Pope Urban V

Today is Saturday of the third week of Advent, and we are continuing our reflections from the prayer book, 'Opening Our Hearts to God: Praying Through Advent with Pope Francis.' Today we also celebrate the feast day of Blessed Pope Urban V, who served as pope for eight years from 1362 until his death in 1370. His primary goal during his papacy was to reunite the churches of the East and the West; while it almost happened, it was ultimately not meant to be.

## Scripture Reflection

Our reading today comes from 1 Peter 4:11: 'Whoever speaks as one who utters the oracles of God, whoever renders service as one who renders it by the strength of God supplies, in order that everything that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belongs glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.'

## A Prayer for Strength

In the spirit of this reading, we offer today's prayer: 'Bless me, heavenly helper, through the power of your intercession, give me strength in my weakness so that by serving you faithfully in this life, I may praise you and love you.'

*We are called to serve others not by our own power, but through the strength supplied by God so that He may be glorified.*