Joy in the Midst of Suffering | Two-Minute Tuesday

Описание: One of the great mysteries of life is how people who are well off and privileged physically and materially can be so unhappy and frustrated while others with simple means and even insurmountable physical obstacles are joyful and at peace in life. Here in the United States of America, one doesn't have to look too far to encounter this strange reality.

One of my greatest joys of sharing the gospel internationally is when I get to leave the comforts of 'home' and step out into the unknown. For me, Haiti is nation I've had the honor of visiting many times and have come to love...but of course, it's the people who won me over. Haiti remains the poorest country in the Latin America and the Caribbean region and among one of the poorest countries in the world. But you'd never know it from the joy you see on their faces and experience in meeting our Haitian Catholic brothers and sisters in person. It's undeniable that the joy of the Lord is their strength!

Saint Paul (and all of the Apostles for that matter) lived extraordinary lives of courage and joy too. After they were filled with the Holy Spirit, they actually considered their suffering and persecution as a joyful blessing, remembering the words of the Master, "Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven, for so their fathers did to the prophets" (Luke 6:22-23). It's clear that all of the Apostles, including St. John, suffered greatly at the hands of religious and secular rulers and authorities who wanted nothing to do with their gospel message about the risen Messiah. And yet, they considered their suffering a cause for rejoicing. What can we learn from this?

My hope is that we can remember that whatever we're going through right now in our lives, God is greater. Eternity is greater. May we be granted the grace to see our lives with an eternal perspective -- to desire to store up treasures in heaven again, where moth and rust cannot destroy nor thieves break in and steal. Because no matter what 'valley of the shadow of death' you may be going through, I know that He is with you. And if Christ is truly with you through it, he can give you a supernatural joy that makes no earthly sense. God bless you! -- Chris Stefanick