by Vincent Pereppadan, S.J., Jesuit Fellow at USF and Priest in Resident at St. Agnes Church
If our faith does not stand the test, it’s not faith. A group of women, while praying, got struck reflecting on the Prophet Malachi’s verse. It said, “And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver…”(Mal. 3:3). They wanted to know the real meaning of purifying silver. So, they went to a silversmith to
consult. The smith explained: “It’s a long process. I look, without turning my face away, into the crucible, when the red fire turns the molten metal into glittering silver. It’s a play with the flame and time!”
“Until when?” asked a curious woman.
“Until I see my face reflecting on the surface of the liquid silver!”
That description was enough for the women. They could see how the Father looked at Jesus in His suffering. They could see how the Father’s face revealed on the Son’s. They could see how God purified His Son like silver, looking at the crucible of suffering until the Father could see the Son’s face! Yes, the Father never withdraws His face from His daughters and sons while they are in the crucible of their sufferings. Do we reflect His face who is looking into us?
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