Prayers -

THOUGHTS ON PAIN AND SUFFERING

DBM - 1998

The place of suffering and evil in God's plan is complex
if not confounding and vexing. One might easily ask,
"Why would the Creator of all things make creatures,
and then subject them to inequity (infants, the disabled, animals) and pain (the lot of all humankind)? This enigma forces our attention in a special and most challenging way.

God did not make us as obedient eunuchs with no sense
of good and evil, and with no will to choose our actions

No, gave us in His likeness, with free will, and with that, the ability to sin. In giving us also the vulnerability
to suffer, He gave us the means by which to atone
for rejection of His love.

Here are some of my thoughts about
the "purpose" of suffering:

Suffering:

* Puts into perspective the brevity of time,
versus the infinity of eternity

* Contrasts the relative discomforts of the physical world with the extravagant joys of eternal life

* Provides individuals with opportunities to cooperate
with divine will by offering submission and acceptance

* Allows people to discover their own potential
for heroism and the strength to overcome adversity

* Gives humans a unique opportunity to aid, assist, support and comfort each other, in imitation of God's care for us

* Provides individuals the full freedom of will
which allows a choice between good and evil

+ + +

Observation adapted from A Concise History of the Catholic Church, by Thomas Bokenkotter

"Christianity does not see suffering and affliction
as desirable in themselves. However, if one accepts Christ, then poverty, hunger and bereavement are no longer
the absolute evils they appear to be, for they cannot prevent one from enjoying the love of God. They may even be of help in this regard, whereas the tings people cherish most -- riches, abundance of friends, comfort,
and good times--are real evils if they hinder one
from seeing the kingdom of God."

+ + +

Comment of a woman totally disabled with cerebral palsy, describing the condition of her son, who had a ski accident, February 27, 2002:

"It is a miracle that James is alive.
Once we start with this fact, this gift, then everything else falls into place. We are grieving his losses,
but at the same time we are feeling a fierce joy
that he is alive. We know and feel how lucky we are,
how lucky he is, how many worse scenarios
there could have been, and we focus on all he can still do and be. We know there will be dark times and dark thoughts and many months to travel for James, but we will
be with him and he with us. This is what matters.

We find no profit in such questions as why did this happen. There is no one and nothing to blame here. Are we going to blame Youth and Joy and the very nature of the world?
It is probably good that we don't know how much danger there is around us. We couldn't live a full life if we focused on such. We are finding our sources of comfort
in the love and friendships which surround us,
and which are coming to us in full measure right now."

DBM - 1987

+ + +

"I consider the sufferings of this world to be as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed to us."
--St. Paul, Romans 8, 118

* All temporal suffering comes to an end.

* Even in the direst straits,
people find humor and brightness

* Suffering often brings out the best in both the sufferer and those who minister to him or her, or who are influenced by him or her.

A life without challenge would, like a diet of eclairs, fail to satisfy. We are most alive when we are able
to overcome an obstacle, for then our strength of will
is being put to the test, we are most strongly aware
of the power of will which is God's greatest gift to us.

Pain which refuses to abate demands our full attention
to the task of endurance, to the meaning of life,
to union with the suffering of Christ.

+ + +

Jesus, Who suffered on the cross for all people
please have mercy on all those who are suffering this day.

Amen

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