So where is our hope? You do not comprehend pain. You do not comprehend that through the love of God you need to accept pain and endure it. Every human being will experience it to a lesser or greater measure. But with peace in the soul and in a state of grace, hope exists: this is My Son, God, born of God. A small section of Our Lady of Medjugorje’s message 2 Sept, 2017 As a species, we need to ask “why”? It starts when we are very young, and the questioning can only get more intense as we age and hopefully mature. The most important questions are not ones we can answer, but those where our questioning seems to be always at the same place; we never get the response we are asking for, and there is no closure on that level. When talking about suffering, the questioning can become bitter leading to despair. Many can lose faith over this, seeking to understand our lives and what people have to endure. The quote above will anger some and help others. Still, some readers will be mystified. There are moments in my life where I experience each of the above. For there seems to be, way too much suffering in this world. As humans we mull over the past, fear the future and often find the ‘now’ something, as it says above, to endure. Some philosophies seek to help find answers. When a thinker concludes that because of suffering there cannot be a God or any kind of reason for our existence, is one way to take care of the problem. It is simply the way things are and any answer that we come up with that is different from one of atheism, is based on fantasy, a way to handle life and its absurdities. We live, have life experiences, and then we die….that’s it. I could live with that. However, as absurd as the idea of God can be, and the thought of a loving God even more absurd, yet is atheism any less absurd? For me, it is more absurd. It seems that we are always at a crossroads being asked to choose which way we will go. Because I believe in a Universe that is filled with intelligence and information (the laws that run the universe), as well as a great beauty, it points to a ‘being’ that is in reality ‘unrestricted thinking’, or infinite mind (the Mind-of-Christ). So, if this is true then God will reveal himself to a creation that he found to be good and loves. I believe Jesus Christ is that revelation. We treated that revelation (Jesus Christ), the same way that we abuse each other. He was hounded, betrayed, lied about (fake news), mocked, beaten, imprisoned, tortured, and then put to death in a most painful manner. What happened to him was as common as mud in his time, and not much different now. Yet there was a difference. On the Cross, he forgave all, in his sufferings, He united himself to all of humanity, and when he died in such a horrible manner, we died with him. He died a total loser, his enemies smug in their victory, which is what always happens in this world. The good are trampled, enslaved, and killed, with no justice. So where is our hope? Well, this loser, this outcaste, this lover of mankind who was betrayed, arose on the third day and began the transformation of the world. So, in our sufferings, we find our hope in Christ Jesus. I believe that all seekers of truth will one day bend their knees in great joy to this truth that is mocked by most today. The mystery of Christ Jesus and what he did is not something that can find complete closure, sort of the like the problem with suffering and pain. Yet those who ponder this great deed. and pray about it, will find that slowly it comes more clear, yet it is always just out of reach…..so we continue the journey of growing in faith even in the midst of great suffering, pain, chaos, and loss. We are called to pray, to love, to unite ourselves to Christ so that by grace we participate in his sufferings and resurrection, for we are the Body of Christ, and all of us are priest, partaking in his salvific will. In that is our hope, not some magical thinking about God, for no one believes in “The Magic Man in the Sky”, but we seek to be transformed by grace into Jesus Christ. Upon the Cross, you felt our fear, you saw the void and fell back asking that it be taken away, yet you drank that chalice of suffering to its dregs and in you your failure you overcame. For you arose and we rise with you. Br.MD
I used to envy the Saints for being so certain. But now I admire them for being certain in their uncertainty . In walking by night rather than day. By uncharted courses in unknown waters.
It reminds me of today's Psalm reading. Psalm 34 I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2 My soul will make its boast in the Lord; The humble will hear it and rejoice. 3 Exalt the Lord with me, And let’s exalt His name together. 4 I sought the Lord and He answered me, And rescued me from all my fears. 5 They looked to Him and were radiant, And their faces will never be ashamed. 6 This wretched man cried out, and the Lord heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles. 7 The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, And rescues them. 8 Taste and see that the Lord is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! 9 Fear the Lord, you His saints; For to those who fear Him there is no lack of anything. 10 The young lions do without and suffer hunger; But they who seek the Lord will not lack any good thing. 11 Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord. 12 Who is the person who desires life And loves length of days, that he may see good? 13 Keep your tongue from evil And your lips from speaking deceit. 14 Turn from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it. 15 The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous, And His ears are toward their cry for help. 16 The face of the Lord is against evildoers, To eliminate the memory of them from the earth. 17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears And rescues them from all their troubles. 18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit. 19 The afflictions of the righteous are many, But the Lord rescues him from them all. 20 He protects all his bones, Not one of them is broken. 21 Evil will bring death to the wicked, And those who hate the righteous will suffer for their guilt. 22 The Lord redeems the souls of His servants, And none of those who take refuge in Him will suffer for their guilt.
