The Point of Some Hardships . . . Is For the Glory and Goodness of God to Show Itself
Fr. Hugh Gillespie, SMM
The Point of Some Hardships . . . Is For the Glory and Goodness of God to Show Itself
I n the scriptures we hear I will take you from your grave and give you life.
These words are directed to a broken people in exile. The chosen people no longer have their lands. Their life changed. Spiritually, something died. These words impact us today. The Lord speaks a Word that reaches into the dead and gives it back life. Listen further to this Homily.
In the Gospel we hear about the Lord calling Lazarus out of his grave. Lazarus was sick, and a friend of the Lord. The Lord waits first before traveling to see Lazarus. The Lord does not always act immediately. Why? The illness that inflicts Lazarus does not only impact his life. There is a point to Lazarus’ sickness. When things go wrong, like an illness or some other hardship, it is not pointless . . . if we unite it with Our Lord.
Hardship Is NOT Pointless, If . . .
When Jesus hears about Lazarus, He waits a bit. Why? Because there is a point to the hardship Lazarus’ family is experiencing. So, He waits. This is a lesson for us to recognize! The issue is uniting our hardship with Christ which allows the point to emerge.
Lazarus dies, then the Lord moves to go to him. The point of the illness was not that the family would suffer. The point is the miracle that is about to happen. The point is the Glory of God will be evident. Hardship, often, can be a way of the Goodness of God to show itself.
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The Raising of Lazarus: Dutch Painter: Rembrandt: 1630
This painting, from early in his career, shows Lazarus re-awaking from death. This painting was kept by Rembrandt throughout his life and was not sold until after his death. The painting illustrates light and darkness from inside the tomb with limited lighting. The painting was donated and resides for the last sixty-five years or so in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
This Homily was given outside. At times, the wind is strong. We thank you for your patience.
The Point of Some Hardships . . . Is For the Glory and Goodness of God to Show Itself
