Hebrews 12:4-7, 11-15 / Mark 6:1-6
The human inclination is always towards comfort, leisure and pleasure.
And that is after the basic needs of food, shelter and clothing are fulfilled.
That being said, it is quite obvious that difficulties and discomfort are to be avoided, and needless to say, pain and suffering are regarded obstacles to an enjoyable life.
So when the 1st reading says that suffering is part of life's training, we may wonder what is the training for.
It says that the Lord trains the ones He loves, and as God's children, we must be prepared for that training in suffering.
But it is a training in love. Love is a sacrifice and it entails suffering.
Suffering without meaning is futile and it only makes a person bitter and hardened.
But suffering with love and for love makes us united with Jesus who suffered for us in order to save us and to make us understand the power of love.
Life is more than just eating and drinking and what to wear and what to enjoy.
Life is about the discovery of God's love for us and that will be through the Cross of Christ.
With love, and to suffer for love and suffer with love, we will discover the meaning of our lives on earth.