""My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46).

Here summarized is the anguish of every supplicant whose prayer wasn't answered; who waited for help that didn't arrive; who hugged the stilled body of a stricken child; who, dumb with grief, saw her husband leave her; whose life work was trashed in an instant by economic or natural disaster.

This is not an exclamation of unbelief. Rather, Christ acknowledges for all mankind that the mystery of suffering is too great for us. Though we cannot fathom his ways we can talk to him, frankly expressing our broken hope and our bewilderment.