OPENING THE FOLDED PAGE OF LIFE

 “SPRINGS OF LIVING WATER”

Daily Spiritual Reflections

4th June 2021

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FRIDAY, NINTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

Tob 11:5-15; Ps 146:1-2,6-10; Mk 12:35-37

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OPENING THE FOLDED PAGE OF LIFE

I came across a poem recently titled ‘The Folded Page’ by Mrs Charles Cowman. The poem speaks of her experience, as she was flipping through her old schoolbook which was lying in the attic. She comes across a page that was folded and on it she had written in her childish hand, “The teacher says to leave this now, ‘tis hard to understand’.” She opened the folded page curiously, only to read at the problem’s end these words scribbled, “We learned ‘why’ after a while.” 

If we go through the book of Tobit, we see that all the major characters have their own folded pages. Tobit became blind although he was a virtuous man, Anna, his just wife, was falsely accused by her husband, their son Tobiah was sent on an almost impossible mission, and Sarah’s seven husbands died on the night of their marriage to her. None of them understood why they were suffering in this way. Tobit in his grief prayed for death and Sarah even contemplated committing suicide. 

But in their hour of trial, they turned to the Lord in prayer and the Lord heard their cry. In ways unknown to them he brought them healing, comfort and joy. He sent his angel Raphael to assist them and although they did not know that he was an angel of the Lord he became to them an instrument of God’s love. At the end of the story, their folded pages were opened and they gave thanks to God. 

In our lives too we find many things difficult to accept, like the death of a loved one, failure in business, the end of a promising relationship, an incurable disease, etc. We may question God and even think of throwing in the towel. But let us remember that if we turn to God in prayer, God will never abandon us. He will send us help in ways and through persons unknown to us. “Someday – maybe only in heaven – we will unfold the pages again” and realise with gratitude, why God permitted such things to happen to us and our loved ones.

Response: My soul, give praise to the Lord!

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