tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853204965986587589.post1220522162931024802..comments2024-03-17T22:48:00.427+08:00Comments on Reflections and Ruminations: Meeting God in a dark cloud.Fr Luke Fonghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03079016104331055895noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853204965986587589.post-27525562013279394622014-12-19T09:33:35.499+08:002014-12-19T09:33:35.499+08:00It is easy to praise God during the good times (if...It is easy to praise God during the good times (if we are so predisposed). <br />But it is only during those difficult moments that our faith is truly tested. That is why I admire those who have been through the toughest times and yet, have remained strong in their faith: even though it was mainly through the grace of God that they did not falter. Because they hung on, and did not let go.<br /><br />I pray that I will do the same when the time comes. Thank you, Fr. Luke.<br />Robbie Jnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7853204965986587589.post-32469622335258563832014-12-18T00:57:50.521+08:002014-12-18T00:57:50.521+08:00“True praise and worship can only come about when ...“True praise and worship can only come about when God is re-centered in our lives.............................................. when we do lose ourselves in praising God with our whole being, we forget about ourselves and our neediness. It is thus not only possible to praise God amidst our sufferings, it is actually something that is also strangely necessary.”<br /><br /><br />These words speak to me because it is so true that when hard times come knocking on our doors, it is so easy to cave in, to give up and be scattered helter-skelter......................be lost in the wilderness and chaos of life, of things gone awry.........................where everything one grasps turns to straw or perhaps – crumbles to dust? This spiral into darkness can be so swift and inviting ...............even tantalizingly seductive that one is sucked into the “conundrum” of the tornado of helplessness and desperation, even before one is fully aware of it.<br /><br /><br />The life-saver is the Holy Eucharist, for it is at the Mass – “the source and summit of the Christian life - that we hear His words to us, when our hearts catch fire, ............and at the breaking of bread we recognize him and then - we go – for we are sent forth in the right direction...............” (Fr Barron) <br />- and so our fragmented selves coalesced - as God is once again re-centred in our lives. It is only then that (like you said) - “even amidst the suffering and pain” one cannot do otherwise, but “truly praise and worship God” for it is strangely comforting, strangely familiar and so right!<br /><br /><br />God bless you, Fr.<br /><br /><br />tessa<br />Tessahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04211998984286520369noreply@blogger.com