Nothing makes one feel so strong as a call for help.

"Nothing makes one feel so strong as a call for help." These words of Pope Paul VI are a profound reflection on the human condition, a reminder that our deepest strength is often awakened not in moments of self-reliance, but in the moments when others reach out, vulnerable and in need. In this simple yet powerful statement, the Pope speaks to an eternal truth: true strength is not measured by the ability to stand alone but by the capacity to lift others when they falter. It is through the call for help that we discover the boundless power of compassion, and in answering that call, we find a strength that is greater than ourselves.

Throughout history, it has often been the call for help that has forged the greatest heroes. When Homer’s Achilles heard the cries of his people, when he saw his comrades suffering in battle, it was the urgency of their pleas that ignited his courage and unleashed the full might of his power. Achilles was a warrior of unmatched strength, yet it was the suffering of others, the need for aid, that gave him a purpose greater than his own glory. In his answer to that call, he became more than a man — he became a legend, a beacon of strength born from the vulnerability of others.

Consider also the story of Mother Teresa, a woman whose entire life was dedicated to answering the call for help from the poorest and most destitute souls in the world. She did not wait for great moments of personal triumph or glory. Instead, she saw strength not in individual success, but in humility and service. Her strength came from the deep compassion she felt when she saw others suffering, and in every moment she spent answering their call, she became a living testament to the power of human kindness. It is said that Mother Teresa's greatest strength was not her fame, but her ability to be present with those who were most in need.

There is an undeniable truth embedded in Pope Paul VI's words: our strength is magnified when we act on behalf of others. It is not when we are on the pedestal of self-sufficiency that we truly find ourselves — it is when we step into the vulnerability of others, when we listen to their cries, that we become the vessels through which greater things can be achieved. The call for help is not a weakness; it is a profound invitation to rise, to engage with the world in its most raw and authentic form.

This call for help can come in many forms: from a friend in distress, from a community suffering injustice, or from the very earth itself as it weeps under the weight of human greed and neglect. Each cry is an opportunity, an invitation to discover our inner strength. Just as David became a hero not in his own right, but in his willingness to fight for his people, we too become strong when we act not for self-glorification but for the welfare of others. It is not the absence of need that defines us, but our response to that need that reveals our true power.

And so, we must ask ourselves: when we hear the cry for help, do we shrink in fear, or do we rise with courage? The call for help is not a burden to be avoided, but a privilege — a chance to be part of something greater than ourselves. By answering that call, we discover a strength that resides not in our own capabilities, but in the deep well of compassion that connects us all. It is through these acts of service, through these responses to the cries of others, that we fulfill our true purpose.

The lesson is clear: nothing makes one feel so strong as a call for help. Do not shy away from the suffering of others. Instead, embrace it, and allow it to awaken the deepest parts of your soul. In answering the call for help, you do not just lift another — you also lift yourself. Act in service, for it is through our acts of compassion that we find strength, and in our strength, we become a light to the world. Rise to the call — not only for others but for the greatness within you that will be revealed through this sacred service.