C
cwmatt
Guest
When sorrow, suffering, hardship, and trials come into our lives, it’s like struggling in the darkness of the cocoon. It’s an uphill battle as we experience living hell on earth. We struggle with pain, tears, anxiety, and fear of the unknown. It’s frustrating so I prayed for the Wisdom of Solomon to understand the struggle…As I opened my heart like a Morning Glory I felt the Lord’s love and concern not just for me but for all his children. I think of the man whose son struggled against the power of darkness - Matthew 17:14-20. This man took his son to the disciples hoping for a cure but unfortunately meant up with disappointment until he came face to face with Jesus who reached out to cure the man’s son. This kind of darkness could only be cast out by prayer and fasting. Jesus said to his disciples, “If your faith were the size of a mustard seed you could say to this mountain, “Move from here to there”, and it would move; nothing would be impossible for you” (Matt. 17:20). Perhaps the mountain Jesus refers to is the difficulty that comes into our lives. I am reminded once again of the words Catherine Marshall wrote, “When one has lost one’s way and can no longer feel the Shepherd’s hand, when the Valley of the Shadow is dark with the light of faith withdrawn, what does one do then? Trust God in the dark and wait and hope, and hang on the best one can.”
I think of a talk Father Pablo gave on a television program called EWTN. He spoke about the love and concern Jesus felt for Mary of Magdala. Mary was so touched by the warmth and Love that is God that she became a follower and very close friend of Jesus. Father Pablo spoke of Mary’s love for Jesus. Mary was on her way to Jesus’ tomb and probably wondered in the back of her mind how she was going to move the rock away from the tomb. When she arrived at the tomb she saw that the rock had already been moved. She looked inside the tomb and saw that Jesus was gone. She cried. Jesus came to her and said: “ ‘Why are you weeping?’ Mary, thinking Jesus was the Gardener said: ‘Sir, if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and remove him’” (Jn. 20:15). Father Pablo mentioned that back then people were small. He said Jesus probably weighed about 170 pounds and Mary probably weighed 90 pounds. Mary was prepared to drag Jesus away. Mary’s faith and determination allowed her to move the stone of difficulty. Pain and sorrow (the stone of difficulty) just happen to be the mountain Jesus referred to when he said “If your faith were the size of a mustard seed you could say to this mountain, “Move from here to there”, and it would move; nothing would be impossible for you” (Matt. 17:20). With God’s help Mary took control of the mountain of difficulty instead of allowing it to take control of her. She learned to walk by the light of Faith trusting in Gods’ power to heal–not in the healing–but in the God who heals.
It was in his homily that Father Don Manfred spoke of our brokenness and how “a life must be broken and shared in order to be bread for others.” Carol Hamblet Adams writes, “Broken shells represent tears, pain, struggle…but they are also valuable for teaching faith, courage, and strength. Broken shells inspire others and demonstrate the will to go in a way that no perfect shell could ever do.” In the darkness of pain and suffering, we need each other–for it’s love, encouragement, support, and prayer that keep us strong when life hurts the most.
“Love proposes the impossible and then goes out and does it” (Father Pablo).
I think of a talk Father Pablo gave on a television program called EWTN. He spoke about the love and concern Jesus felt for Mary of Magdala. Mary was so touched by the warmth and Love that is God that she became a follower and very close friend of Jesus. Father Pablo spoke of Mary’s love for Jesus. Mary was on her way to Jesus’ tomb and probably wondered in the back of her mind how she was going to move the rock away from the tomb. When she arrived at the tomb she saw that the rock had already been moved. She looked inside the tomb and saw that Jesus was gone. She cried. Jesus came to her and said: “ ‘Why are you weeping?’ Mary, thinking Jesus was the Gardener said: ‘Sir, if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and remove him’” (Jn. 20:15). Father Pablo mentioned that back then people were small. He said Jesus probably weighed about 170 pounds and Mary probably weighed 90 pounds. Mary was prepared to drag Jesus away. Mary’s faith and determination allowed her to move the stone of difficulty. Pain and sorrow (the stone of difficulty) just happen to be the mountain Jesus referred to when he said “If your faith were the size of a mustard seed you could say to this mountain, “Move from here to there”, and it would move; nothing would be impossible for you” (Matt. 17:20). With God’s help Mary took control of the mountain of difficulty instead of allowing it to take control of her. She learned to walk by the light of Faith trusting in Gods’ power to heal–not in the healing–but in the God who heals.
It was in his homily that Father Don Manfred spoke of our brokenness and how “a life must be broken and shared in order to be bread for others.” Carol Hamblet Adams writes, “Broken shells represent tears, pain, struggle…but they are also valuable for teaching faith, courage, and strength. Broken shells inspire others and demonstrate the will to go in a way that no perfect shell could ever do.” In the darkness of pain and suffering, we need each other–for it’s love, encouragement, support, and prayer that keep us strong when life hurts the most.
“Love proposes the impossible and then goes out and does it” (Father Pablo).