All through human history we have been faced with the mystery of suffering. The Bible has many striking passages reflecting on such suffering, especially the suffering of the innocent.

During Advent, the prophecy of Isaiah served as a spiritual guide for us to help us reflect on the desires of the human heart that would find their meaning in Jesus born at Bethlehem. Similarly, during these three days of Holy Week, we turn once more to Isaiah to seek wisdom and light to help us understand how to draw meaning out of the suffering of Jesus and all human suffering. It is significant that the same prophet, Isaiah, helps us to reflect on the joy of Christmas and the sorrow of the Passion. In any human life, both joy and sorrow will occur. They may usually occur side by side, at different moments and in different circumstances of life. A greater wisdom will penetrate into the mystery of joy and sorrow occurring together, interwoven with each other. Today, Isaiah shows us how the Servant of God can suffer and at the same time know the nearness of God and divine consolation.