December 2, 2008 10:49 PM
Believers are called to suffering, not comfort
From Judy:
From the Preface of Conceived Without Sin by Bud MacFarlane Jr.There is a poet and singer named Jim Carroll. I saw him on the old Tom Snyder show. Snyder asked Carroll why he named his first album "Catholic Boy."
Carroll replied that he was a Catholic."A Catholic?" Snyder was shocked, as if being a Catholic was like being a leper or something. You could practically see him making a mental note to fire the guy who asked Carroll to be on his show.
Carroll went on to explain that Catholicism is the only religion that finds any value in suffering. Carroll had recently stayed by the bedside of a friend who had suffered tremendously from leukemia for months before passing away.
He explained by saying something like, "All the other religions promise you happiness and contentment. But that's not what life is like. That's not what it was like for me watching my best friend waste away; I felt totally helpless. That's not what it was like for Mary to watch her Son get nailed to a cross. Catholicism isn't afraid of blood and suffering, or death. It's real."
This is so much what I've been thinking for the past couple months as Tripp and I have gone through the unexpected experience of seeing our life slide out from under our control. Tripp has been in so much pain. There's so much boredom and discouraging moments.
And yet, I know how much God loves us. He loves us too much to allow us to stay in our complacency. How misguided are those who think that if God loves you he will make you wealthy, that the Christian life is all about trying to gain God's favor so He will increase your prosperity. That is certainly not the message of the Gospel.
One might argue quite the contrary - the more heavy the Cross you bear, the more favored you are in God's sight.
I mentioned on Thanksgiving that as we all shared what we were grateful for at the Thanksgiving table, our daughter-in-law Hattie gave thanks for her cancer. At 22 she has experienced a year that not many people her age have experienced - five major surgeries and losing her thyroid, part of her spine, and half of a lung.
But Hattie must have learned something about the value of suffering, and I'm guessing she wouldn't have it any other way.
She and Tripp have been great examples for our family.
Posted in Inspiration | Permalink
Comments
Catholics don't love suffering for suffering's sake - nor do they seek it out. But when it is unavoidable, they accept it, realizing that it is through Christ's sufferings that our salvation came and that Christ told us to take up our cross and follow him - not just to Calvary, but beyond to salvation and resurrection. We offer our sufferings as well as our joys to Christ.
Fr. Frank Pavone has a refrain to remember whenever we are suffering. "Today is Good Friday, but Easter is coming". Suffering would be meaningless unless it is accepted in light of the final joy that awaits us.
Posted by: Judy | December 3, 2008 8:28 AM
Thanks Judy for that clarification. I still feel a little clumsy explaining some of these distinctions - and am very grateful for those who put a fine point on my ramblings here :)
Posted by: barbara | December 3, 2008 8:41 AM
I am so glad you expressed the value of suffering. Too many people want a stress free Christian life. I don't like pain either. I'm one of God's children that usually screams the loudest when I'm in pain. But...I do know that it's pain that has taught me about the grace and love of my Savior. It's pain that reminds me that life is a fleeting moment in eternity and that the present problem is actually just a blink of the eye when compared to the overall plan. What seems like months of torture to me quickly fades to a distant memory once the pain is over. Pain is not the issue....how I grow and what I become is the issue!
I was taught that being a Christian means being "Christ" like. If we are to be his friend, his child and we are to be "like" him, we need to share in "all" of him. Not just the happy fun, give me what I want stuff, but also the I'll follow you anywhere stuff. After all, his power is useless if it's only there for the good times and has nothing to offer during the bad times.
Having said that, Barbara and family, the more I learn about you the more I love and respect you. I am praying that God will bless you and keep you during this difficult time. My prayer is that when I face my trials - because they will come - that I can face them with the grace that you have modeled before me. Thank you and God bless you!
Posted by: Debbie | December 3, 2008 11:48 AM
“If God gives you an abundant harvest of trials, it is a sign of the great holiness to which He desires you to attain.
Do you want to become a great saint?
Ask God to send you many sufferings. The flame of divine love never rises higher than when fed with the wood of the cross, which the infinite charity of the Savior uses to finish His sacrifice.
All the pleasures of the world are nothing compared with the sweetness found in the gall and vinegar offered to Jesus Christ; that is, hard and painful things endured for Jesus Christ and with Jesus Christ.â€
St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuits.
Posted by: Milehimama | December 3, 2008 11:54 AM
Lately, I have been reading many uplifting stories about Christians who have triumphed through adversity. It seems that Christianity is a religion that finds comfort and meaning through tragedy. These stories really challenge me in my walk. Thank you!
Posted by: Katy | December 3, 2008 11:00 PM
