Daily Devotion

“The Italian Jesuit Giulio Aleni (1582-1649) was sent to China in 1610 and, while waiting at Macau to enter the country, taught mathematics there. Adopting the dress and manners of the Chinese scholar class, he became the first Christian missionary in Jiangxi and built several churches in Fujian. His works in Chinese include the world atlas Zhifang Waiji and a life of Christ drawn from the four Gospels (Peking, 1635-1637, 8 volumes). His convert Li Jiubiao recorded the answers of Aleni and his fellow Jesuit Andrius Rudamina to the questions of their parishioners and compiled them into the journal Kouduo Richao. He died at Yanping, Fujian, in 1649.”

Wikipedia · Wikipedia, "Giulio Aleni" (from the Catholic Encyclopedia, 1913)

Scripture

Hebrews 12:11 For nothing discipline seems pleasant at the time but rather painful, but later it produces a harvest of peace and righteousness for those who have been trained in it.

Reflection

Suffering is God’s grace in disguise, like the bitter cup brewed by the “Great Physician”. When we encounter illness or depression, although the flesh feels sad, it is the Holy Spirit who is pruning the roots of our pride. If life does not experience stripping, it will be difficult to see its own limitations. The Lord uses the "thorn" of the environment to force us to let go of our self-reliance and resistance and return to His cross. The current suffering is an operation to remove a chronic disease in the soul. As long as we are willing to practice it, it will eventually bear the fruits of peace and righteousness, leading us to true spiritual purity.