In our having to do our share, we should be clear about what is being asked of us.

First and foremost, we have to be sincere. We just have to be true to ourselves. We acknowledge our faults and limitations so we can do something about them. We should then use our reason and our faith to keep fighting against the faults that tie us down and the limitations that clip our wings. Instead of pretending that all is well with us, we have to be coldly realistic about our infinite need for help.

Once we accept that we are in need of help, which realistically is nothing short of infinite, then we should be humble enough to turn to God. We can not use God as a crutch or as an excuse for not doing anything on our part. Rather, with the trifles that we can contribute, and with the work we are able to do well, we then ask that the pump thus primed would spew forth an enormous amount of water and grace that only God can provide.

With God so largely brought into the equation, we then consider it our duty to do what He wants us to do and obey his will. Let us not imagine that God is so far off that we would not know what He wants of us and what He wills for us. Rather, we should be convinced that He is so very near indeed, and that doing our work very well and very caringly is what He wants of us. Moreover, what He wills for us is for us to carry out our daily, ordinary tasks in conformity with His laws and ethical norms: All these are written deep into our hearts.

The pathway to victory, then, is marked out by the ordinary work we carry out with diligence each day. As the saying goes, God helps those who help themselves. This may be expressed in a slightly different way: God makes those who work hard and well develop and allows them to progress rapidly. As a people, we should be very hardworking, trying to be productive and effective in everything we do every day. And the more we carry out our work as responsible citizens, in greater solidarity with each other, the faster we can secure the common good of our people.

This brings us to the last characteristic we need to take on in order to develop rapidly: That characteristic is confidence. We should be secure with the knowledge that, despite everything, we can count on God. He is the source of enlightenment for our minds, strength for our wills, and effectiveness for our actions. Moreover, God’s part is the biggest part of what we need for victory. Thus, for as long as we remain plugged to Him, we would be connected to the very source of our eventual victory.

This is the basis for our peace and cheerfulness. As a people, we should bask in being at peace and keeping our cheerful character. We know that we have victory at hand: It is as close as we want it to be.