Thursday After Ash Wednesday

 

THURSDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY

Joy, Even in Suffering

The Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. Luke 9:22

The deep truth is that our human suffering need not be an obstacle to the joy and peace we so desire, but can become, instead, the means to it. The great secret of the spiritual life, the life of the Beloved Sons and Daughters of God, is that everything we live, be it gladness or sadness, joy or pain, health or illness, can all be part of the journey toward the full realization of our humanity. It is not hard to say to one another: “All that is good and beautiful leads us to the glory of the children of God.” But it is very hard to say: “But did not you know that we all have to suffer and thus enter into our glory?” Nonetheless, real care means the willingness to help each other in making our brokenness into the gateway to joy.

When I am tempted this Lent to worry about anything, help me instead to trust you to redeem everything in my daily life. When I feel trapped, I will turn to your mercy for release.

Henri J. M. Nouwen

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