“There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens. A time to give birth, and a time to die. A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1-2,4)
It was an overcast, rainy day when my father was driving home after buying farm implements from the neighboring city. He skidded and lost control of his jeep and plunge into a cliff. He was killed instantly.
It was an overcast, rainy day when my father was driving home after buying farm implements from the neighboring city. He skidded and lost control of his jeep and plunge into a cliff. He was killed instantly.
This happened many years ago; I was nine years old at that time. The untimely death of my father at that time created a void that our family had to adjust to and face. This was the time when family, relatives and friends came to share in our grief and mourning for his loss. His death bonded the family closer to one another. Why did God allow this to happen? We, his children, were still very young and dependent upon him. Our mother was suddenly given the responsibility of raising and taking care of seven young children, a task which she amazingly and marvelously performed.
I grew up and had my own family, but the question as to why God decided to take him back at an early age lingered in my mind. In one of our word sharing circle during our BLD worship, God gave me the answer to my question.
The story is that my father died on his 49th birthday. The morning of his birthday, he went to confession and received communion before that fateful trip. What could be a more opportune time to be called by God than after going to confession and receiving the Eucharist. What seemed to us to be a tragic early end to his earthly life was rewarded with eternal life and happiness in God’s kingdom. We, the bereaved family members, wept and mourned because of our beloved father’s early and tragic demise. God, in his infinite wisdom and divine plan, called my father to His heavenly kingdom at the most opportune time, after he repented of his sin and received the Holy Eucharist on his birthday. How many times have we questioned God following an unhappy incident that happened in our life? And in our grief we question why God allowed such a tragic incident to happen.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, oracle of the LORD.” (Is 55:8) We should always have faith and trust in God that His divine ways and divine thoughts may not be apparent to our human minds but in His mercy and love, He always has a good plan for us.
I grew up and had my own family, but the question as to why God decided to take him back at an early age lingered in my mind. In one of our word sharing circle during our BLD worship, God gave me the answer to my question.
The story is that my father died on his 49th birthday. The morning of his birthday, he went to confession and received communion before that fateful trip. What could be a more opportune time to be called by God than after going to confession and receiving the Eucharist. What seemed to us to be a tragic early end to his earthly life was rewarded with eternal life and happiness in God’s kingdom. We, the bereaved family members, wept and mourned because of our beloved father’s early and tragic demise. God, in his infinite wisdom and divine plan, called my father to His heavenly kingdom at the most opportune time, after he repented of his sin and received the Holy Eucharist on his birthday. How many times have we questioned God following an unhappy incident that happened in our life? And in our grief we question why God allowed such a tragic incident to happen.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, oracle of the LORD.” (Is 55:8) We should always have faith and trust in God that His divine ways and divine thoughts may not be apparent to our human minds but in His mercy and love, He always has a good plan for us.