"Joy is not the absence of suffering, but the presence of God." Pope Leo XIV

Both joy and suffering are part of the human experience. Common to both is the presence of God. In the midst of his sufferings Jesus reflected on the words of the psalm, "The joy of the Lord is my strength." He embraced suffering for our salvation, knowing that doing the will of the Father was his joy. Suffering can turn us away from God or bring us closer to God. What motivated many of the Saints, especially the martyrs doing there anguish and suffering, was the awareness of God's presence and his strength. As we embrace our own sufferings, don't lose sight or awareness in faith of the Lord's presence.