St. Francis de Sales gave us this insight, “Let God gather what He has planted in His garden, He takes nothing out of season.”  In God’s season, we find our ultimate hope!  That is the land of the living. 

The fruits of the Holy Spirit are charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, and chastity.  [CCC 1832]

Pope Francis said that Christian joy … is a gift from God.  The Pope likened this joy given by God to the joy of a mother embracing her baby after childbirth, because it is a joy “purified” by the suffering of labor.  The joy of the Christians … is a “joy in hope”.  Joy is the natural reaction to the work of God, whether promised or fulfilled.  Joy expresses God's kingdom—His influence on earth. (Romans 14:17)

The Spirit’s production of joy can manifest in several different ways read the story of Franz Welser-Most.

It is told in Martin Werlen, OSB ‘s Embers in the Ashes, on pages 1 and 2, the book is available through Paulist Press: http://www.paulistpress.com/Products/8-330-5/embers-in-the-ashes.aspx.

Another version of Franz Welser-Most’s story is recounted here:

https://www.allmusic.com/artist/franz-welser-m%C3%B6st-mn0000690837/biography

“May you find in the ashes of your suffering the strength to pray for God’s grace to find God’s joy and share it, that is what Jesus’ DID!” 

 

Bishop Fulton J. Sheen said, "God’s delays are mysterious; sorrow is sometimes prolonged for the same reason for which it is sent.  God may abstain for the moment from healing, not because Love does not love, but because Love never stops loving, and a greater good is to come from the woe. Heaven’s clock is different from ours."

So, the mystery of pain and suffering persists, our choice is what to do with it when it comes into our life.

May God Be Praised!