Wisdom from the Pope......

Today was a pretty hard day, probably one of the hardest that I have had in a long time. I lost a coworker this weekend and the sorrow that it has caused in our community is overwhelming. For the homeless, those that provide services to them in many ways become their family so the sorrow that those I serve was intense. I also felt my own greif over the loss of a great man, coworker, and friend. When I came home today, an article in the criterian jumped out at me. It was an article about suffering written by Pope Benedict XVI. "We are called to participate with our whole being in the entire event of the death and resurrection of Christ. We have as the Apostle says died with Christ, and we believe we will live with him. The affirmation that those who have been baptized into Christ's death will rise with him implies that there will be suffering, but that suffering and death will not have the last word. To live with faith in Jesus Christ, means having to renounce things each day. It implies suffering. Christianity is not the path of ease, but is more like a challenging climb. Only by plumbing the depths of suffering, do we find the deepest meaning of life, its beauty, its great hope, and promise."

These words brought me great comfort and helped me to realize that I experienced this in it fullness today. It was in the sorrow that saw and expereinced today that I was reminded of the sanctity of life and the impact that loving and serving those in need has on the world. I was reminded again today of the importance of living a life dedicated to loving God and loving service to our neighbors. I also experienced in a deep way the comfort of knowing that I am loved and supported not only by God, but by many others. I felt the prayer support of many giving me the strength to comfort those mourning around me. I received many phone calls and a special surprise coffee drop off be the best vocation director ever. I am truly blessed to have the support of my family and the Sisters of St. Benedict. They encourage me to continue to use my gifts in the service of the Lord each day. Most importantly these words reminded me that Christ's death and resurrection gives us the hope for our own resurrection at the end of our days and that Greg's death is not the end, but a new beginning.