Reckoning

Sometimes I simply cannot figure things out.

Sometimes there are just too many things to handle: I cannot see a way through.

Sometimes I am afraid.

These are some of the things that go through my mind, from time to time.

But I know that there are many, many people in this world whose troubles and sufferings go far beyond what most of us – God willing – will ever experience.

What goes through their mind?

How does one deal with things too grievous and intricate to figure out?

St. Paul was a man who knew suffering, who knew failure, who knew rejection and pain.

But he was also blessed with grace – the grace of a glimpse of the glory of God – and even during his darkest moments, that grace-filled memory lived in a quiet place of his soul.

And so, no matter what or how much happened to him, St. Paul had it figured out, as he says at the beginning of today’s first reading (Romans 8:18-25):

For I reckon
that the sufferings of this present time
are not worthy to be compared
with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

It is probably safe to say that none of us are like St. Paul, but it is also safe to say that all of us have times of suffering – some more than others.

Yet that is not all, because God extends to us too his wonderful, comforting grace through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

And so, no matter how intense our pain, no matter how confusing our world, no matter how loud our temptations, there is a quiet place in our souls where the firstfruits of the Spirit abide: at least the hint of a foretaste of the joy that God has prepared.

For I reckon
that the sufferings of this present time
are not worthy to be compared
with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Praised be Jesus Christ.