Feast of St. Monica

St. Monica was the mother of St. Augustine. She was remembered for her patience and persistence. Her prayer for the conversion of Augustine lasted for seventeen years. The Catholic Church celebrates her feast today.
Today was a rather hard day for me. In the morning, the first English Panel Meeting lasted three and a half hours and I was responsible for minutes taking. We rescheduled the RS panel meeting for this afternoon. As a tradition, we had a sharing session with all Catholic teachers before the panel meeting proper. This year, we have two new teachers, again from the English Department. The sharing was fruitful. Many practicable ideas had been tabled. For example, we will try to centralize the morning prayer on Tuesdays and Fridays when we do not have morning assemblies but class teacher periods instead. We also plan to organize a retreat for Catholic students and teachers on one Saturday. Brenda said that religious activities need to be more visible and John commented that we are just doing what we should do but have failed to do for a long time. The mood was enthusiastic.
Today we also finish the Second Epistle to the Thessalonians. Chapter 3 begins with a note of caution.
Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed on and triumph, as it did among you (2 Thessalonians 3:1).
Indeed, St. Monica, please pray also for us that we may learn from your patience and persistence. It is not easy to spread the word of Jesus among the students. We have RS lessons, but students are very pragmatic. They are not motivated to study hard for a subject they think unimportant. The challenge for us is to make the subject relevant and captivating. Brenda was right. Religion should be more visible. The spreading of the word of God is bound to come across obstacles and resistance. That is why St. Paul asked the Thessalonian Christians to pray for them in the preaching of the good news. In Shung Tak, we don't have people as charismatic as St. Paul. Yet even St. Paul needed to seek support from the others. Our prospect is rather dim though not impossible. We have to rely more on God.
Verse 5 is a bit puzzling.
May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ (2 Thessalonians 3:5).
All along, St.Paul addressed Jesus as Lord Jesus, Lord Jesus Christ etc. Therefore, the Lord is synonymous with Jesus who is the Christ. Now St. Paul prayed that the Lord (Jesus) would direct their hearts to the steadfastness of Christ (Jesus). What does that mean? How do you direct people's heart to your steadfastness? Here, it sounds like there are 3 people involved, where the Lord no longer equal to Jesus, the Christ.

My dear Advocate, following St. Paul's cue, I pray that the word of God may speed on and triumph here in Shung Tak. I rely on You to help me out. Amen.