Finding the glory of God in the cloud of suffering

In today's first reading from 1 Kings 8:1-13, we hear how Solomon returns the ark of the covenant to the Temple, which was then filled with a cloud which represented the glory of the Lord. Solomon said, ''The Lord has chosen to dwell in the thick cloud.'' The gospel (Mark 6:53-56) is all about Jesus curing multitudes of sick people who came from all the towns and villages begging Jesus to cure them. For years many of them had been living under the cloud of sickness, with little hope of recovery. Then the news of Jesus reached their eyes. Everyone was talking about the man from Nazareth who seemed to be empowered by God. Their hope of a cure grew and even those who touched the fringe of his cloak were healed. They discovered the glory of God in the midst of the cloud of suffering. Sometimes we too can feel that we are under a cloud of suffering because of unfortunate events that are occurring in our lives. Today's readings can fill us with the same hope that impelled so many sick people to seek a cure from Jesus. Our faith in the glory of the resurrection tells us that the same Jesus is present in our lives today just as he was present in Galilee. May all those in the darkness of sickness, depression, war and oppression be brought into the light by the efforts of those working for peace and health.