In the Face of Opposition | Rabbi Yoir Adler

Our siddur is full of tefillos of yearning, of anticipation for the בנין בית המקדש, for the coming of moshiach. But the pasuk says in Koheles that the days of ביאת המשיח are called: “ימים אשר אין בהם חפץ” These days will not be desirable. How do we understand that? Why will the days of moshiach not be desirable days? Are the days that we're living through now more desirable? What's the understanding of this? I heard in the name of the Lakewood Mashgiach, R’ Matisyahu Shlita, he said the following mashul: There was once this kid that came to participate in a ball game the first time in his life, and he saw the players running back and forth on the playing field. And he noticed every time a player got the ball into the net, And he noticed every time a player got the ball into the net, he got so much recognition. People were clapping, people were cheering. and he became envious of this player. So when the game was over, this kid took his own ball, went down into the playing field, and he kicked it right into the net. He was waiting that the people that were still left in the stadium would clap and cheer. But that wasn't the facts. He was heartbroken. He was so upset! And he went over to his father and he says: “Daddy, I don't understand! Why didn't I get the honor that that player got? I also kick balls right into the net!” The father said to him: “That's a foolish question! When the player got the ball in the net, he was being faced by opposition. When the player got the ball in the net, he was being faced by opposition. He was being faced by a challenge! When he managed to overcome that challenge and got the ball in the net, he deserves to be applauded! He deserves recognition! And that's why we cheer him on. You came when the game was over. Big deal! You got the ball in the net when there's no opposition. When moshiach comes, there won't be a יצר הרע anymore. When we will then be mikayim Torah and Mitzvos, it's like getting the ball in the net without a challenge. “ובימים אשר אין בהם חפץ” As long as we are in galus and we are being challenged, we have a יצר הרע, we have an evil inclination, and it's an uphill battle! He's trying to get us to sin, and we stay strong! Then yes - These are days “אשר יש בהם חפץ” These are days that the בית דין של מעלה cheers us on! These are days that we have the opportunity to be strong and to say “וימאן”