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Look to Things that are Unseen |
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So we do not lose heart. Though our outer nature is wasting away, or inner nature is being renewed every day.
For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.
because we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
2 Corinthians 16-18
Another new year - new hopes and new aspirations. Dare I say, new fears and hardships?
But looking at this, a Christians life is indeed full of difficulties. But what makes us different is that we have hope. Even if we are swamped with troubles, we know that these difficulties are Gods way of strengthening us.
Last December 26th, I noticed something interesting in the Church liturgy. It was the feast of St. Stephen - the first martyr of the Church. The next day was St. John and following these were the feast of the Holy Innocents, followed by the Holy Family. The Church seems to remind us that Christmas is not about a cute little child sleeping peacefully as in a manger scene.
Christmas is about the God who loved us so much - that he was willing to become like us - and to eventually die for us. It reminds us that the focus should be on Jesus - to Good Friday and eventually Easter.
As Christians, we have been marked for suffering just as Jesus was marked for suffering - even in his birth. As Christians, we believe in the goodness of God. We believe that these sufferings have a reason - for our renewal everyday.
Notice that Paul did not say that renewal happens in one instant. It is an everyday thing. And each day, we suffer - we become stronger. We know that our suffering is not useless. We know that sufferings prepare us for what is not seen - God himself! Through sufferings, we will be able to see him as he is.
What does the New Year hold for us? We do not know. But as Paul said, we look not to the things that are seen, but to those that are not seen.
May this New Year draw us closer to the unseen God, who became man in the person of Jesus our Lord.
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