This has been a hard couple weeks. First there was the tragic shooting after the Super Bowl parade in Kansas City. Then there was the news that Alexei Navalny, the brave leader of the opposition in Russia, had died in prison. Later I read that the military aid to Ukraine did not pass the Senate. And recently I heard that the food and medical supplies being sent to the starving Palestinians in Gaza were not allowed to go through by Israeli forces.
It was
almost impossible to find one piece of good news. I know I need to stop
watching the news and reading the newspapers. I should focus more on Lent and
the Scriptures. The gospel for the Second Sunday of Lent was the account of the
Transfiguration. This was the time Jesus’ body became dazzlingly white and the
apostles who were with him heard the words from above: “This is my beloved son.
Listen to him.” Peter, James, and John were overcome with joy at this
tremendous revelation. Yet not too long afterward Jesus was arrested and
crucified. More bad news.
A few days
later, however, Jesus rose from the dead. So in spite of Jesus’ terrible suffering
and excruciating death, his resurrection overcame the evil. I try to tell
myself that maybe there will be some good news if I’m willing to wait. But the
waiting is the hardest part. When will justice be done? When will peace be
achieved? When will good overcome evil in
our current world?
I am not a
very patient person. I may not live long enough to see the world achieve peace.
I may have to trust that God knows what
he’s doing and I just have to keep praying and trusting. There’s an old joke,
“Life is hard and then you die.” But we
who have persevered through all the injustices and suffering believe that even
if we die, we shall live with God forever. Then the light will shine through..
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