[ Today's Readings ]
But I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice,
and no one will take your joy away from you.
There is suffering in this earthly life. It is just how things are. But that doesn't mean that is how things will always be. For those of us who know you, Jesus, suffering has a direction and a definitive end in sight. It is a part of the process as we are born and grow. But one day all of creation will be set free from these birth pangs.
For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies (see Romans 8:19-23).
Suffering now is more than a temporary evil to be endured. It is a force that can be harassed for growth. It can be harassed for our own individual growth..
Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us (see Romans 5:3-5).
And the growth of the whole world...
Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church (see Colossians 1:24).
This all makes sense only precisely because there is a day coming when suffering shall cease. Even though it is the way things are now it is not how they shall be forever. Suffering might be stoically endured if it were to last forever. But suffering like that could never give rise to hope or to joy. Rather, we begin to rejoice even now because we know that the day is coming when you will wipe the tear from every eye.
He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away (see Revelation 21:4).
We may well weep and morn. But it is not like those who have no hope (see First Thessalonians 4:13). This is how Paul endures short term hardships. Even when the Jews rise up against him and things seem grim he clings to the word of promise from God that no one will harm him in that city. We see how his faith and hope transform even the way he lives in present circumstances. He is able to keep his peace even when synagogue officials are beaten in what is ultimately violence directed toward him.
Bring us to that day LORD. Bring us to the day when we trust you so much that we don't need to question you about anything. Bring us to the day when our will is so completely surrendered to you that we can ask for anything in your name and receive it from the Father.
God mounts his throne amid shouts of joy;
the LORD, amid trumpet blasts.
Sing praise to God, sing praise;
sing praise to our king, sing praise.
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