There are moments in life when everything seems to happen at once. Usahay makaingon gyud ta: “Lord, pwede usa-usa lang? Ngano man nga nagdungan man tanan?” One problem comes. Before we can recover, another comes. Then another.
And sometimes the most painful question comes from our heart: “Lord, nganong ako man? What have I done to deserve this?”
This is where we find Job in our first reading.
Job was a good man. He loved God. He lived a righteous life. And yet, in just one day, almost everything was taken away from him—his possessions, his livelihood, his servants, and most painfully, his children.
Imagine the pain. And yet Job teaches us something very important today.
Faith does not mean we will never suffer.
Sometimes we think: “I pray every day. I go to Mass. I try to be good. Why did God allow this to happen?”
Job reminds us that being close to God does not exempt us from suffering. Good people also get sick. Good families also experience problems. People who pray also lose loved ones. People who serve God also experience disappointment, betrayal, and failure.
Faith is not a guarantee that there will be no storms. Faith is knowing that when the storm comes, we are not alone.
It is okay to cry
I love this detail about Job. When he heard the terrible news, Scripture says that Job tore his cloak and shaved his head. Job cried. Job mourned. Wala siya magpakaaron-ingnon nga okay ra siya.
Sometimes we think that because we have faith, we should always be strong. No. You can believe in God and still cry. You can trust God and still feel hurt. You can pray and still ask, “Lord, why?”
Our tears are not necessarily signs that our faith is weak. Sometimes our tears themselves become our prayer.
When you can no longer find the words to pray, perhaps all you can say is: “Lord, sakit kaayo.”
And sometimes, that is already enough.
When you cannot understand God, hold on to God
After losing almost everything, Job says: “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”
Job did not understand what was happening. But he continued to hold on. And perhaps this is the deepest message of the reading: Faith is not saying, “Lord, I understand.” Faith is saying, “Lord, I do not understand, but I will not leave You.”
There will be things in life that we may never fully understand. Why did this person die so young? Why did this relationship fail? Why did I become sick? Why did God allow this problem in my family? Sometimes there are no easy answers.
Bring your pain to God
I remember a story of a mother who lost her young son. For many months, she could hardly pray. Every time she entered the church, she would look at the crucifix and cry.
One day, someone asked her: “After everything that happened, why do you still come to church?”
She remained silent for a while. Then she answered: “I come here not because I understand God. I come here because I have nowhere else to bring my pain.”
Final Words
What a beautiful faith.
She did not come because all her questions had been answered. She came because she knew where to bring her tears.
Perhaps that is also the invitation of Job today. When your heart is broken, bring it to God. When you are angry, bring your anger to God. When you are confused, bring your questions to God. When you have no more words, bring even your silence to God.
Ayaw pagpalayo sa Ginoo tungod kay nasakitan ka. Mas moduol hinuon ka Kaniya. You may not understand everything that God allows. But remember this: The God you are crying before is also the God who is crying with you.
So when life becomes difficult, perhaps our prayer does not have to be long. Simply say: “Lord, I do not understand. Sakit kaayo, Lord.
But I am still here. And I believe You are still here too.”