Let your steadfast love come to me, O LORD,
your salvation according to your promise;
then shall I have an answer for him who taunts me,
for I trust in your word.
AELW 11:449
"And I will have an answer for those who reproach me, because I have trusted in Thy words. Namely, for those who say, “Where is your God?” Or, “You are stupid in looking for mercy and a salvation different from salvation in earthly things.” Thus the shame of the cross is made a matter of reproach and abhorrence for the faithful, not only before Christ would come and sanctify, dignify, and make most precious in God’s sight the cross and all evils of punishments in this world through His blessed suffering, so that this mercy is better than all lives...
Therefore, having obtained the mercy and salvation of God, who is Christ, they easily despise the shame of the cross, yes, they glory in the cross and have a word of response for the reproachers. These are not reproached in return, but they are admonished and gently taught that every man who regards as shame what God turns into glory is a liar. Faith and hope in things to come accomplishes this. If they did not have faith and hope, they would not respond, but keep silent and agree with them, fleeing the cross and seeking only the good things in this life, and thus the Word of truth would be removed from their mouth."
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