MEDITATION TIP —
Passion Sunday
March 24, 2024

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Mark 15:34)

　These are the last words of Jesus on the cross. I am sure that there have been times in our lives when we have cast such a desperate cry to God in the midst of a serious illness, a job, or a relationship. But such cries of despair, sadness, and anger are natural as long as we are human beings equipped with emotions. But the important thing is not to become too attached to them and let them afflict your heart as well.

　There are people who are bothered by everything. There are people who worry about the past, the present, and the future, and they make everything a source of trouble. There is a word for this: “kiyu” (groundless fear). This is a phrase from the Chinese classic “Liezi,” and it refers to a man who could not eat or sleep because he was worried that the heavens would fall and the earth would collapse in the Land of the Groundless. The origin of the word comes from a story about a man who could not bear to look at him, and who persuaded and reassured him.

　“I would like you to think back to matters that were troubling you a year ago. How did you get through them? Did you waste energy worrying about them? In the end, I believe that most of those worries were just nothing to be concerned about. As the years went by, I gradually learned that 99% of the things I worried about never happened” (Dale Carnegie).

　On the other hand, there are those who do not consider hardship as hardship and sadness as sadness. It is not that the person's heart is unfeeling or strong. There is a kind of spirit in their hearts that allows them to enjoy life. In other words, it is an open mind that can enjoy and cope with even suffering. Even if they fail, they have the attitude to learn something from it. Even if they are scolded by their teachers or superiors, they are thankful that they have learned something, and even if they get sick or have an accident, they can say, “Life is a school, and school requires tuition fees.” But those who can say, “I did pay a high tuition this time,” with an open mind, have the spirit to enjoy life and joy in their hearts. If you have the spirit to enjoy life, you can turn adversity into an opportunity. What such people have in common is that they always use positive words and words of gratitude. Such people also maintain a spirit of humor. On the contrary, people who complain, swear, and speak negatively often seem to stumble in life. People live their lives as they usually think and speak. The first step to a happy life is to change our words.

　When we are in a difficult situation, it is also important to look at it from the positive side. There is still life, there is still health. We still have a good wife, husband, and family; we still have good friends, etc. If we count the positives, gather them, and make the most of them as our strength, the way will surely open for us.

　If “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son” (John 3:16), then let us also have the spirit to enjoy this life and get along well with suffering.

 　　　　　(Contributed by Father Akabae)