A pastor put sanitary hot air dryers in the rest rooms at his church and after two weeks took them out. I asked him why, and he said that when he went in there he saw a sign that read: "For a sample of this week's sermon, push the button."
Man stands in need of most of the varieties of beings in the universe and is connected to them. His needs spread through every part of the world, and his desires extend to eternity. Just as he wants a flower, so he wants the spring. Just as he desires a garden, so does he also desire everlasting Paradise.
Just as he longs to see a friend, so does he long to see the All-Beauteous One of Glory. Just as in order to visit one he loves who lives somewhere else, he is in need for his beloved's door to be opened to him, so too in order to visit the ninety-nine per cent of his friends who have travelled to the intermediate realm and so be saved from eternal separation, he needs to seek refuge at the court of an Absolutely Powerful One Who will close the door of this huge world and open the door of the hereafter (fromdarknesstolight.org).
Jesus came into a world of darkness and sin, a world in need of mercy and compassion. Instead of condemnation He brought forgiveness: "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do."
And the alleluias still ring! Though many ears do not hear. And peace is all around. "Peace be with you! Go to all nations with the good news."
Perhaps the greatest mystery in our world is the meaning of suffering and death. The Book of Job presents the puzzle. If God loves Job, why all the suffering? Job's friends thought it was the secret sins of Job. Job knew better.
Pope John Paul II said the Book of Job is a foretelling of the Passion of Christ. Innocent, betrayed by friends, Jesus endured bitter suffering. But through it Jesus revealed the redemptive power in all hardship and pain.
Papal preacher Fr. Raniero Cantalmessa said, "What do you do to reassure someone that a particular drink contains no poison? You drink it yourself, in front of him." Jesus drank the bitter cup of passion to find the pearl in the bottom of the cup; the Resurrection!
Pain and suffering are foolishness to the world. To the Christian they are a profound mystery. The Christian finds the redemptive and intercessory power of suffering. Christ showed us the way. Job said, "For I know that my vindicator livesand from my flesh I shall see God" (Job 19:25, 26).
That which is darkness and death is also light and life! Pain and tears give way to a banquet of joy, where every tear will be wiped away.
What joy bursts forth, even from our broken alleluias. What is lacking in our world today is the absolute Resurrection joy of Jesus' disciples who saw the Lord after He rose from the dead. Have we seen the Lord?
