Is there anything in your life that you find hard to accept? If you cannot understand God’s reason for allowing it to happen, just trust His heart - Daily Reflections April 30,2015

THE AMAZING MYSTERY OF GOD’S LOVING KINDNESS   The crucifixion of the Lord may be considered a temporary hour of Pilate’s victory, and all those he represented. It was an hour of darkness, of seeming defeat and utter loss. It was Satan’s hour, but not meant to be forever.          Our opening prayer asks God that we may “look upon the amazing mystery of His loving kindness.” Let us unpack this mystery a bit. One meaning, among many, of mystery is that which is unknown until it is revealed by God Himself. Another meaning is that which is difficult or almost impossible to understand.          Both are easily applicable to our reflection for today. It is difficult to understand why good men suffer. It is hard to fathom why evil temporarily triumphs and the forces of good seem to always take the back seat.        But what is hard to understand does not mean it is absurd and ridiculous. As a priest, I have seen many women and men who, subjected as they were to so much pain, proved that there is some force stronger than pain. I have met up with many who, despite being bowed by seemingly insurmountable odds, show that there is Someone bigger than their problem, bigger than their suffering.        Ours is not the task to understand, but to accept. The Cross was a mystery. Jesus’ death was a mystery, as was His suffering. Why He did it is a mystery — something that is not meant to be explained but to be lived. Our prayer talks about “looking upon,” not understanding.        But I can assure you of one important thing. Tens of thousands of saints, over more than two thousand years, have shown to the world that “no servant is greater than his master.” They found meaning in the cross. And they show us the amazing mystery of God’s loving kindness. Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB   REFLECTION QUESTION: Is there anything in your life that you find hard to accept? If you cannot understand God’s reason for allowing it to happen, just trust His heart.   Lord God, help me to trust in Your heart whenever I cannot understand and accept what’s happening in my life.

Di