The Ark of Covenant

Chinese are very pragmatic. Self-interest is paramount in their mind. They are willing to bend all moral principles, to bribe all their ways to get their things done. Money don't just set the world running. With money, you can bribe the ghosts (not to mention gods) to grind the mills. So, their religious attitude is not admirable at all.
However, there is no single panacea to heal all illnesses. Even if we are in possession of the Philosopher Stone and live forever, we will only be troubled with all sorts of dismays for eternity, from our immediate family, our relatives, our friends, our neighbourhood, our ... What about the Ark of Covenant, where Yahweh of Hosts resides? Shall we be free from all troubles when we are in possession of the Ark? It depends.

In 1 Samuel 4-6, we read of how the Israelites were defeated by the Philistines. 4000 Israelites were killed. So, they then took the Ark of Covenant from Shiloh into their battle, hoping to destroy the Philistines. However, 30000 Israelites were killed instead and the Ark of Covenant fell into the hands of the Philistines. The Ark had a mind of its own. It sent terrors among the people in possession of it wherever it went, in Ashdod, in Ekron until it was returned to Israel.
So, we see that the Ark is really the residence of Yahweh of Hosts. He instructed the Israelites to build the Ark as a gift from heavens. But He is not confined to the Ark, nor to the Temple in Jerusalem. He is everywhere, omnipresent, Ark or no Ark. So, once again, it proves that hardware alone is of no use. It needs software to bring it to life. I always maintain that building a Marian Shrine is of no use. It serves only a decorative purpose and people will ignore its existence when they get used to it. Unless we work to cultivate an appropriate religious atmosphere, to gather praying people around it, a Marian Shrine is just part of a landscape.
Now that the Ark is lost, but Yahweh is still among us, believers. Yahweh does not promise any freedom from troubles. Instead, His love is steadfast. He wisely makes use of sufferings to prod us to maturity, to sanctification. For His sake, we suffer. Then, we will be sanctified. Actually, it is He who suffers for our sake in Jesus. So, why complain?
My God, we are fragile and weak. We are averse to sufferings and disappointments. Help me embrace them humbly, and enable me to see that You are suffering by my side. Amen.