In his letter to the Romans, Paul writes: “Brothers and sisters: I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed for us.” Paul states that although all of creation is still groaning in pains of growth and labor, we human beings already have the first fruits of the Holy Spirit with us. While we know this as a truth of our faith, that the sufferings of this world are nothing compared to the glory of God, that they are nothing compared to the new life we will have with him after our earthly existence comes to an end, it is still difficult for us to bear the many burdens and sufferings we have to go through here on earth. Paul says that it is hope that will sustain us, that will get us through these sufferings and all that we have to bear here on earth. We can lift our sufferings up to the Lord, we can unite our sufferings with the sufferings that Christ endured on his way to the cross. We can find meaning and growth in our sufferings. We can feel encouragement and strength from the prayers and support we receive from the other members of our community of faith. We all know someone in our community of faith or in our family or at work or school who is perhaps going through sickness and illness, through a lot of aches and pains, or struggling with a terrible addiction. We stand in solidarity with them, and we unite all of our prayers together, lifting them up to the Lord. Let us always place our hope in the Lord.
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