The Ups And Downs Of Life
Feast of Saint Lawrence, deacon and martyr
My dear encountered couples:
Life is like the waves of the sea. Ups and downs, highs and lows, joys and sorrows. The ups give our spirits something to ride on with God; the downs make us look up to him. The highs give us hope, the lows test our faith. The joys are a taste of heaven; the sorrows make us ready for heaven.
“Unless the grain of wheat falls to the ground,” says Jesus, “it remains just a grain of wheat. But if it dies, it produces much fruit.” What does he mean?
I think he is trying to tell us that the downs, the lows, and the sorrows in our lives are cause for rejoicing. They are just what we need to form our characters in the likeness of Christ and make us fit for heaven. That which makes us sad, that which pains us and causes us to suffer might make our lives unpleasant for a time, but isn’t it all worth it if we are assured of a perfect eternity?
The good times will not roll in until the bad times have come and gone.
We might not like the taste of medicine, the idea of having an operation, or even the experience of growing old, but when we know these things are for our good, they become easier to live through. Jesus was able to put up with the cross because he kept his eyes on the good it would bring. We can much better put up with the lows in our lives if we keep faith in what comes afterwards.
Life is like the waves of the sea. Ups and downs, highs and lows, joys and sorrows. As a surfer can put up with low waves because he knows that soon he will be riding on high waves that are sure to follow, the person of faith can make it through the down moments of life because he knows what is coming.
Be joyful and praise God. All in your life is for your good.
