There was a man, an atheist who decided to go for a swim one night at an indoor pool. He made his way up the diving board went to the edge and prepared to do a back dive. As he put his arms out to his side, the moonlight cast a shadow on the wall. The shadow was of a cross. At the sight of the cross, the man got on his knees and asked God to come into his life. At that very moment, the janitor came in and turned on the lights. As the man looked downward, he could see that the pool had been drained that day. He was seconds to plunging towards his death, but the Cross saved him! This, by the way, is a true story that was sent to me via the internet.

Why do I mention the Cross on Transfiguration Sunday, when we just heard how Jesus was in dazzling white garments and shining in glory? I actually brought my own dazzling white garments today, since we can take a break from the green and wear white this week. This white vestment I have on is my first Mass vestment my parents bought from just over a month ago. Why do I bring up the Cross when Peter, James & John have said how "good it is to be here" and Jesus is in Glory?

The answer is simple! To get to the Resurrection we must first go to the Cross. The Transfiguration was only a preview of what was to come. A preview of coming attractions so to speak. Jesus was about to show them the way to this Glory. You want this Glory, then you have to first stop at Calvary. Jesus heads down the mountain and on to Calvary to show them the way to this Glory. If we want to get to the Resurrection, we must go to the Cross first. Before the Glory comes suffering. First the pain, then the gain!

I want to share with you another true story which illustrates suffering. It’s the story of a dear friend of mine who just turned 41. He was married to a wonderful woman, named Kathy. Kathy had two children and about 7 years ago, one of them was killed in a knife fight in our small town, Westerly. A few years later, the other child, her daughter was diagnosed with cancer. The youth of the area rallied behind her and things looked well. She graduated from high school, but shortly after things took a turn for the worse and she died. Soon after, Kathy’s mom passed away. Kathy, as you may imagine, was suffering and wondered why God allowed all this to happen. Mal, her friend at the time, pointed out all the good years Kathy had with her children. He also noted some of the conversions of the young people in the area. It is also important to note that through this all, Mal was baptized and soon he and Kathy were married, after her first marriage was settled and the annulment came through. Unfortunately, the story doesn’t end. This past year, I received a call from my dad and he informed me that their was a car accident and Kathy was killed. Why did this all happen? Why all the suffering? Do you know what Mal would tell you after all this. Mal says that "he is in exile." He has told me, "this is not my home, I’m in exile and I’m looking forward to going to my true home, in Heaven." Mal is a man of great faith and his focus is on going Home and seeing Kathy again. I mentioned to Mal that there are so many books written on suffering, for example, "Why do bad things happen to good people." Mal said in reply to that, "Why do good things happen to bad people." Mal was bringing out a reality. We are ‘bad’ in the sense that we are sinners and due to the sin of our first parents, suffering came into the world. However, good things still happen to us and this shows the great depth of God’s love for each of us. God draws good out of our suffering and loves us too much to keep us there.

Suffering strengthens our faith and helps us to focus on going Home. That’s how Mal can say he is in exile and looking forward to going Home. It is seeing our dependence and need for God in our lives. It is about focusing on the Glory ahead, but first we must go to Calvary. In suffering we will have pain and tears, but with faith we look to the day when there will be no pain and suffering.

Does God know suffering? Are we just suffering alone and God has no idea what this is all about? Doe He know what a migraine headache feels like? Try a crown of thorns in your head! Does He know what it is to see in an ER room, bloody hands and feet? Try having your hands and feet nailed to a Cross. Does he know what it’s like to have your heart broken? How about being pierced through by a lance on the Cross. Does He know what it is to be homeless? The Son of Man had no place to lay his head. Does He know what it’s like to lose a loved one. The shortest line in Scripture is, "and Jesus wept." God wept at the death of his friend Lazarus. God, knows what it is like to suffer. look at the Cross! All our suffering and pain goes to the Cross, where the greatest act of suffering and love took place.