IN OUR PAIN AND SUFERING, WHERE DO WE FIND GOD?

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21 Oct 2017 
Sharing my notes taken @ Church of St Alphonsus, Singapore
- Homily by Rev Fr Simon Tan, CSsR



 

 

Many of us will find today’s sermon by Fr Simon Tan, CSsR so relevant and meaningful….

I tried to capture the essence of what he preached and not all of the below are his exact words.  May you be blessed too, by his sharing.

In this world of tragedies and pain, where do we find God?

It is easy to sense God’s presence when things are going well.

But when things fall apart, where can we find God?
  • in the loving acts of those who stand by us
  • in the medical profession, doctors, nurses, health workers fighting hard along with us, caring for us.  They are instruments of God.
  • In a friend, family member who offer encouragement 
  • in someone who shows up caring in our moment of deep need
  • In those who help us to continually hope in the Lord, encourage us to be open to God. 
  • even in the person who sits next to us at the pew, joining as a family of God praying together….

Goodness and faith do not make us immune to suffering.

God does not promise us a life of no suffering.  He promises to be with us.

God does not say that He will prevent pain and suffering, He has given us free will.  But He promises to be with us through our pain, through every of our encounters and experiences.

Faith is not the absence of trouble.  Faith is the constant realisation of adequate resources made available to us.  And God is the supplier of all the resources we need to get through life.

We will have trials and tribulations in life, but be of good cheer, because we are loved by God.  Loving us unconditionally is His promise to us.

He has given us power so that we can have the right perspective and hope, so that pain and suffering will never overwhelm us.

We can find God and experience Him in our every day….He is right here with us, always.


May we be sheep who recognise our Shepherd’s voice
May we be keenly aware of His presence in our lives

May we sing praises not only in good times
May we be able to give thanks also in our darkest moments because we know He is with us.

May we in our moments of need reach out to God, and allow Him to touch us, in the Scriptures and the Sacraments
May we treasure these and all the resources the Lord has made available to us.

May we recognise Him in the one who comes by us
May we have the grace to be the one who comes by others in need too…

Thank you Jesus, in You we trust.

 

 

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