There was a passage in the reflection from two days ago:
“God desires that this true love continue to be passed on through us. What is required is an unwavering hope, a hope that teaches us to be like Mother Mary, who does not question but simply believes, obeys, and follows, all the way to the foot of Christ’s Cross.” This statement may cause discomfort, disagreement, or even rejection. Don’t ask anything, just believe, and even obey unto death. What kind of reasoning is this?
Why do we associate “hope” with the cross? Wasn’t crucifixion one of the cruelest punishments in the Roman Empire, used to execute criminals and suppress dissent? Wasn’t there great injustice and even wrongful convictions behind it?
Indeed, in human relationships, we often have a mindset of “speaking out against injustice.” We strive to prevent unfairness, and when injustice occurs, we want to seek justice for the victims. This is a natural reaction, as we all have an innate sense of conscience. However, it is not God’s way.
We noticed that neither Jesus nor Mother Mary protested against the injustice that Jesus suffered. Instead, they silently accepted it, revealing that God’s perspective and actions differ from ours.
When feelings of unfairness take root in our hearts, they fuel our anger. This anger blinds us, allowing us to see only the surface of things, preventing us from handling unfair situations with a heart of mercy.
When we are consumed by righteous anger, we act against people rather than addressing the issue itself. In the end, we resort to harming others to solve problems, falling into the devil’s trap!
We must understand that if we firmly believe in the promise of eternal life and trust that our God is just, then we will recognize that fairness is not determined by earthly outcomes. Instead, we will be willing to leave the final judgment to our Lord Jesus Christ.
Conversely, if our short-sightedness drives us to fight for fairness in this world, we may fall into the devil’s trap. The devil seeks to rob us of our peace and hope in the pursuit of fairness, stealing away our merciful hearts.
Let us recall the parable of the prodigal son. The elder son, feeling his father was unfair, became estranged from both his father and younger brother. He sacrificed family harmony and unity, allowing himself to be consumed by anger and resentment. The devil thus successfully led the elder son away from his father.
In contrast, Jesus suffered the greatest evil in human history and was condemned in the most unjust trial before being executed. Yet, He first pleaded with the Father for those who killed Him:
“Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34) These were the first words Jesus spoke from the cross!
If God, out of love for us, was willing to give up His own right to justice, shouldn’t we also learn from Jesus’ example on the cross to overcome the devil’s temptations?
Ultimately, what most often causes us to stumble in this world is not misfortune or suffering itself, but whether we perceive a situation as fair. The devil wants us to believe that God is unfair to us! Only by having true hope in the Kingdom of Heaven and eternal life can we see through the devil’s deception and know that from an eternal perspective, God is the only one who is truly fair and trustworthy!
Reflection
Are you someone who pursues fairness in everything in life? Have you ever lost your inner peace due to anger over unfairness?
Do you think God is unfair? Do you trust that He holds the authority of final judgment and that He is absolutely fair?
Through today’s reflection, examine whether you have true hope. In what areas do you need to make adjustments?
Today’s Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank You for giving me the opportunity today to reflect on the question of fairness in life. You have helped untie some of the knots in my heart. I have been confused and angered by the unfairness in this world. Confusion makes me feel lost, anger makes me hard-hearted, and I feel disgust and hatred towards those who create unfairness!
But what surprised me even more today is realizing that my anger stems from doubting whether You are a fair God. I have even blamed You for the painful experiences in my life, thinking that You ignored me or treated me unfairly.
This makes me feel deeply ashamed. I am ashamed to stand before You. Please deliver me from this state. Do not let me drown in guilt or lack faith in You. Thank You for showing me Your loving face again! Please soften my heart and let Your merciful eyes restore my hope in You!
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Fundraising Appeal
Thank you for participating in this 40-day Lenten spiritual journey. We hope you have been inspired and have benefitted from it! For the spiritual benefit of all of you, Fountain of Love and Life devotes a lot of time and effort in producing various spiritual projects every year, and all our ministries are sustained by the generous donations of our supporters. We hope you will support us with prayers and donations. Please make an online donation using the button at the top of the website Lent.FLL.cc. Thank you very much for your support. God bless!
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Writer: Paul Yeung
Project Manager: Michael Lam, Rosa Tse
Editors: Bonny Chan, Rosa Tse
English Editors: Bonny Chan, Paul Yeung
Mandarin Editor: Anthony X.
Cantonese Narrator: Margaret Woo
English Narrator: J. Johnson
Mandarin Narrator: C. Zhou
Audio Editors: Cyan Cheung, Sander Lee, Margaret Woo
YouTube Editors: Arnold Chan, Cyan Cheung, Sander Lee
Graphics: Francis Lai, Carmen Tsang, Rosa Tse
Website: Patricia Young, Angela Wong
Podcast: Angela Wong
Social Media: Yollie Leung, Carmen Tsang, Rosa Tse
Theme Music:
“3 MINUTES RELAXATION MUSIC | 4K Scenic View of Tuscany” by Introvert Pianist https://www.youtube.com/@introvertpianist
“Sea of Memory” by Aakash Gandhi https://www.youtube.com/@88keystoeuphoria