'Why does God allow suffering?'
First Friday Mass and Adoration, August 4, SAA Church:
Holy Mass at 7 pm, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament to follow. Please join us!
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Six years ago, I had the great privilege of spending a few weeks in Calcutta, India, with the Missionaries of Charity (Mother Teresa’s sisters). I was there with a few other seminarians working and praying each day with the sisters. One night, the nun who succeeded Mother Teresa as head of the order said something to me that I will never forget. She said, “Greg, those who are closest to Jesus on earth are those who suffer the most.”
Obviously, we saw widespread suffering on the streets of Calcutta. Thousands of people everywhere, even little kids, suffering tremendously from hunger and disease. There was so much filth and heat; such oppressive conditions which I had never fathomed, much less seen. That experience has helped me to better understand suffering. For example, reading the words of the prophet Jeremiah (from today's first reading at Mass) when he saw the vast pains of the people of Judah due to war, famine, and drought: “ my eyes stream with tears… over the great destruction which overwhelms…my people…look! those slain by the sword…look! those consumed by hunger”(Jer 14: 17-18). He’s essentially saying to God, 'Lord, do you see this?' His cries are similar to the question we like to ask, ‘why does God allow suffering?’
Jeremiah arrives at an answer a few lines down in this passage. “We recognize, O Lord, our wickedness, the guilt of our fathers; that we have sinned against you”(v.20). Suffering is a natural result of sin. The Israelites had sinned against God. They had broken the covenant. They worshipped false gods, didn’t keep the commandments, and didn’t love their neighbor as they should.
God’s feelings about those who suffer are most likely the same as Jeremiah’s. God’s “eyes stream with tears” seeing His children in pain. Ultimately, His answer to the question of suffering is that He sends His Son to suffer for our sake. He has not only remembered His covenant with us, He has created a new covenant. This new covenant is centered on the suffering, death, and resurrection of Christ. If anyone wishes to live the new covenant with the Lord, he or she must center their lives on the cross of Jesus Christ, on which He suffered tremendously. Jesus himself says, “if anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me” (Lk 9:23).
The reward for those who suffer is not found in this life. Jesus says,“my kingdom does not belong to this world” (Jn 18:36). All those in Calcutta, those here in America, the sick and the dying, those in our family, our friends, ourselves, anyone who endures suffering in any form for the sake of love is a great friend of Jesus Christ. Jesus promises eternal rewards for His close friends. For all those who have imitated Him so well and united their suffering to His, Christ proclaims in today's Gospel: “the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father” (Mt 13:43).
Holy Mass at 7 pm, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament to follow. Please join us!
------------------------------------
Six years ago, I had the great privilege of spending a few weeks in Calcutta, India, with the Missionaries of Charity (Mother Teresa’s sisters). I was there with a few other seminarians working and praying each day with the sisters. One night, the nun who succeeded Mother Teresa as head of the order said something to me that I will never forget. She said, “Greg, those who are closest to Jesus on earth are those who suffer the most.”
Obviously, we saw widespread suffering on the streets of Calcutta. Thousands of people everywhere, even little kids, suffering tremendously from hunger and disease. There was so much filth and heat; such oppressive conditions which I had never fathomed, much less seen. That experience has helped me to better understand suffering. For example, reading the words of the prophet Jeremiah (from today's first reading at Mass) when he saw the vast pains of the people of Judah due to war, famine, and drought: “ my eyes stream with tears… over the great destruction which overwhelms…my people…look! those slain by the sword…look! those consumed by hunger”(Jer 14: 17-18). He’s essentially saying to God, 'Lord, do you see this?' His cries are similar to the question we like to ask, ‘why does God allow suffering?’
Jeremiah arrives at an answer a few lines down in this passage. “We recognize, O Lord, our wickedness, the guilt of our fathers; that we have sinned against you”(v.20). Suffering is a natural result of sin. The Israelites had sinned against God. They had broken the covenant. They worshipped false gods, didn’t keep the commandments, and didn’t love their neighbor as they should.
God’s feelings about those who suffer are most likely the same as Jeremiah’s. God’s “eyes stream with tears” seeing His children in pain. Ultimately, His answer to the question of suffering is that He sends His Son to suffer for our sake. He has not only remembered His covenant with us, He has created a new covenant. This new covenant is centered on the suffering, death, and resurrection of Christ. If anyone wishes to live the new covenant with the Lord, he or she must center their lives on the cross of Jesus Christ, on which He suffered tremendously. Jesus himself says, “if anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me” (Lk 9:23).
The reward for those who suffer is not found in this life. Jesus says,“my kingdom does not belong to this world” (Jn 18:36). All those in Calcutta, those here in America, the sick and the dying, those in our family, our friends, ourselves, anyone who endures suffering in any form for the sake of love is a great friend of Jesus Christ. Jesus promises eternal rewards for His close friends. For all those who have imitated Him so well and united their suffering to His, Christ proclaims in today's Gospel: “the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father” (Mt 13:43).
posted by Fr Greg at
10:36 AM
9 Comments:
It seems as though only the good people suffer.
By
Anonymous, at 11:13 AM
Maybe God wants us to suffer so we can offer this to Him as a gift.
By
Anonymous, at 11:15 AM
I once read that a saint wrote, "If you want to learn more about Jesus, if want to gain more wisdom about God, speak to some one who is suffering." Some of the saints thanked God for suffering as they knew that because at these times they would feel closest to God. This is a very tough concept to understand until a Christian begins to understand Christ' suffering for us.
By
Anonymous, at 7:24 PM
The concept makes total sense.
By
Anonymous, at 7:39 PM
Many who suffer, though, turn away from God, grow bitter, they perceive that God "did" this to them. I have seen many teens with this mentality when they are suffering intensely. When some one is in this mindset, it is very easy for them to turn away from God. Actually, adults as well.
By
Anonymous, at 7:47 PM
My sister and I just had a conversation on this topic. She suffers much (mental and physical). She does realize that her sufferings are her cross to carry for Christ, and it is because of those crosses that she is closer to Christ. and she tries very hard to remember that always. But sometimes the pain just gets to be too much and she gets angry at God and feels so alone in her suffering. It is just at the time of the pain that this happens. Once she has pulled through it she can see clearer and accept it more. But how does one handle it during the crisis etc?? Jesus reminded her of His Agony in the Garden the night before he was crucified. That He felt just as she does, .... alone, adandoned, scared , no-one understands what He is about to go through. That helps her because she knows in some minuscule way she is helping him carry His cross by feeling as he felt (and yet no where near His agony). But it is when you are right smack in the middle of the suffering that it is hardest to see and accept . I guess this is what the Saints were able to attain. The peace and acceptance (with out the anger) during their pain. My sister and I talked about this form of prayer , sometimes refered to as the "Jesus Prayer" where you use your breathing in combination with saying "Lord, Jesus Christ, Have mercy on me" saying it slowly and over and over again. Does anyone know about this type prayer? I find it very interesting. It is kind of like when a woman is in labor how they tell her to concentrate on a breathing pattern. Maybe the saints used this form of prayer during their painful times. I am interested in learning more about this form of praying. It may also be referred to as Noetic Prayer?
By
Anonymous, at 7:41 AM
TO SISTER- It is extremely difficult to offer our sufferings to the Lord-right in the midst of excruciating pain. God never seems to ask more of us than we can bear. Great idea on the simple prayer of breathing in Jesus during the worst physical pain. After pain has passed, your sister can unite it with Christ's suffering perhaps? All of the saints were on a life long journey of conversion and we all are! I will pray for her!
By
Anonymous, at 8:15 AM
what has helped me with some of the greatest losses/pain in life?
gratitude and never asking "why"
Gratitude-what am I grateful to the Lord for? At first, I would yell NOTHING (when in deep suffering), Over time though I have new answers to this question. Answers that offer gratitude to God sometime simply that I know He is always with me. Gratitude that he has helped me get rid of pride and self reliance! Gratitude to know that I am soley dependent on Him for my next breath, next step. As FG says, God is awesome. His love can carry you through any suffering. Blessings to Father for writing about this! In all things offer praise and thanksgiving to God.
By
Anonymous, at 8:30 AM
I think it is up to all people Christian or not to help their fellow man. There is so much suffering in the world and if we can extend a hand we can help reduce it a bit.
By
Anonymous, at 10:05 AM
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