I have heard that quote many times; sometimes even from pagans! We all know the truth of it, though sometimes people think it is just a platitude. If we have dug deeply into Catholic theology, we will know that it is not only a nice saying, but that it is essential in our grasp of the fact that God is far above us and works in ways that we can only barely imagine.
Sometimes those ways are painful. No way around it; it is a fact. Yet, knowing that He is in charge of all things, and knows exactly what is best in every instance is crucial for us to maintain hope. If we believe, instead, that God is merely a selfish brat who does what He wants without concern for His creation (as some people fall into in times of grief), then we will fall away from wisdom, and end up in complete despair.
It is humbling for us to have to accept that we cannot know everything that we want, but it has a sanctifying effect on our spirits when we give in to this beautiful truth willingly. We may not know why heartbreaking things happen, but God does, and He promises it is never for the sake of sadness, but for the sake of our salvation and His glory.
Today at St. George, we had a funeral for a little baby who passed from a condition so rare they do not even have a name for it. We are all in grief; but we have hope. The parents trust God and His great mercy, because they know how wonderful Christ is. Pray for them. Pray for little baby Michael. And give God the glory.