In Sunday’s first reading, Job spoke to his friends: “Does not the human being have a hard service on earth….. when I lie down I say, ‘When shall I rise?’ But the night is long, and I’m full of tossing until dawn….”
As I picked up my Bible to reflect more on the life of Job, I’d say that he was an existentialist. He was attuned to the fundamental questions of life: What is the meaning of life? What is the meaning of my life? What is the meaning of all the hardship we go through in this life? Why am I here?
COVID-19 like in every other pandemic and difficult time in human history can help us ask once again – what is the meaning of my life?
As I reflect on all that Job went through in his life, I think of our young friend Wills who has gone through a lot. He’s been battling cancer since age 7. In 2019 when I went to see him at the children’s hospital, he was in so much pain but was hopeful at the same time. He shared with me all the fun things he hoped to do when he is out of the hospital. He’s since returned to school but now things are not looking great. Young Wills is struggling. He’s scared. What does the future hold?
One of the things we plan to do is to watch soccer together with his dad. I hope we will still be able to do that soon.
As we read on in the book of Job, at some point, in the midst of his suffering, Job made a great proclamation: “I know that my Redeemer lives and He’ll restore me.” That was exactly what God did for him.
There are no easy answers to the fundamental questions of life. Gabriel Marcel, an existential philosopher, captures it so well: “The human person is not a problem to be solved but a mystery to be lived.”
In my time of suffering, these words have brought me much hope: “I know my Redeemer lives…”
As I think of Wills and all who are undergoing suffering because of illness or other things, I pray that the words from Job can help us to keep hope alive.
Jesus our Redeemer is alive…. He’s gone through all that we are going through…. He understands…. He desires to help us …. He is with us until the end of time.
Please keep Wills and his family in your prayers.
Your brother,
Fr. Obi