Job was the most miserable man on earth according to the bible. He lost everything except his life. Job said: “If in bed I say, ‘when shall I rise?’ then the night drags on; I am filled with restlessness until dawn.” Job concluded: “remember that my life is like the wind; I shall not see happiness again.” To him, life on earth is only pain and sorrow. Do you agree with Job’s thought of human life on earth?



Saint Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, also expressed his struggle inside him. He felt the burden, and uncomfortable obligations which came from the gospel he preached. At the beginning of his letter he said: “woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!” Saint Paul experienced: following Jesus was not always easy but it was a rough and narrow way. Why did he choose to preach the gospel? he said: “All this I do for the sake of the gospel, so that I too may have a share in it.” That means he wants to share in the Lord’s resurrection on the last day.

In the gospel of Saint Mark today, we may learn a typical working day of Jesus. It looked to me, Jesus did not have time to rest or take a nap. From morning till evening, he preached the gospel, cured many who were sick, drove out demons, etc. the work was never done. Then his disciples insisted him to stay in that village. He refused: “Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come.” We have to see that Jesus chose to do his Father’s will instead of looking for rest and comfortable life. This is a great lesson for all of his disciples including us.

I watched the movie “Fatima” a long time ago. The movie began with an interview of Sister Lucia with an atheist writer who was writing a book about Fatima. The atheist writer asked my sister a question which I think is related to all reading today.

“Are you regret now that you were chosen one for the message?”

“No! I only regret that I have not done more for my Mother!” sister replied. Like Saint Paul, Sister Lucia wants to suffer more, and to do more to spread the message of Fatima to the world. The atheist writer was stunting at sister’s answer.

After I completed my degree at Portland State University, I was supposed to be satisfied with what the society offered me. I did not have to worry about money any more. My daily life was just working and enjoying myself with friends. Suddenly, God hit me with a basic question: what is the purpose of my life on earth? Does my life only include making money, eating and drinking? All my joy and happiness disappeared from that day without notice. Job said; “My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle; they come to an end without hope.”

I lost my purpose until one day an old friend asked me: what happened to you brother? As usual, I said: I am fine, why? He said that he observed me and he did not see my smiles anymore. You looked sad, he said. Then I told him that I did not see the meaning of my life when I thought about the future. He then advised me that if I am not happy with the life I have, I may think about different ways of life like to become a religious brother or become a priest. Every time I reflect back to this experience, I believe the Holy Spirit has given me a hint that day of what God wants me to be.

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, we should know that doing God’s will should be our calling. If we commit ourselves to the gospel, we will shed tears and sweat, but we are free in spirit. If we refuse to do what God wants us to do, we will become restless and unsatisfied. Saint Paul, Sister Lucia and all the saints are good examples for us. We will have our place in heaven if we are faithful to Jesus in this life.