The Joy of Suffering
A Reflection by Fred Schaeffer, OFS
I was listening to some Lenten reflections: a Good Friday reflection on the topic of Suffering. Good Friday goes along with this topic because our Lord Jesus Christ suffered for us, YES, FOR US! He died on the Cross as an act of redemption, to save humankind, to make it possible for us to spend eternity with Him in Paradise. We all suffer to one extend or the other. The human condition is one of suffering. And, nowadays, with the almost systemic loss of family life, suffering begins rather early in life. I need not expound on the whys and hows of suffering, we all know about suffering. And we are mostly in denial about personal suffering. Some people use drugs to hide the suffering from others; this causes additional suffering. Other people try to get as far away from church as they can, because they erroneously think that God causes suffering. He does not. God wishes for all of us only joy, deep lasting Joy!
Of course, critics of my writing will immediately shout: doesn't God cause everything, including suffering? Well, no! God, who is goodness itself, has given us great intelligence (not used in equal portions by everyone!) and a free hand to say yes or no ... and, when we misuse this intelligence to do something that God forbids (remember the Ten Commandments?) then we suffer in one way or the other. God does not wish us harm. We cause the harm, we disobey Him, and ultimately, we will confess to Him our misdeeds and then we will know what we deserve, in that final moment of truth. Courts were quick to hide public displays of the Ten Commandments. One wonders why? Was it that the truth regarding God's love felt threatening? Was it that less emphasis on what God wishes from us, somehow made the commandments go away? Who knows what is in the minds of people? What makes them tick? I really have no idea. Why does one person deny God's existence, and the other is a devoted servant of the Lord? We do not know such things. Only God knows how we will turn out from the moment of conception, to a grown person, how long we will live, whether we will suffer or have lots of joy in our lives. God knows us by name, and He is our creator, one who only wants what is good for us. He has sent to us, His Son, Jesus Christ, our brother, our friend, and most of all, our Savior. That's what the Easter Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday) is all about. It is the central most important event in history, one that set Christians apart from everyone else.
It has been my good fortune to know many priests and religious brothers, having been in religious life for about 7 years. I left because I was having health problems and the small Order of monks I was with did not have community health insurance. Those are unfortunate results of the times, and where doors close, our Lord opens other doors. My life hasn't stopped because of this change of venue, and as far as my love for God and for his people is concerned, nothing has really changed at all.
For most people "Heaven" is an unknown. It is through certain saints that we know something about Heaven, and also, people who are at the point of death, sometimes emote about the joy and peace that they get a glimmer of... praise the Lord, we should all have such a peaceful death. That's a good thing to pray for!
People ask: Can I play baseball in Heaven? Will my dog or cat be with me? Of course these are questions I cannot answer, but my gut feeling is that we will be so occupied with God's love, seeing Him for the first time face-to-face, as He really is, that we will lack nothing, and all these other questions about baseball and animals will resolve themselves in an instant. Heaven is something worth shooting for, people; when you think about it, there really is no alternative. The alternative (Hell) is too awful to contemplate. Stay away from there. It will be a place of deep loneliness and constant pain.
Catholics pray at every Sunday Mass, in the Nicene Creed: "For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered, died, and was buried. On the third day he rose again in fulfillment of the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end."
And, the remainder of the Creed: "We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen."
Lent is just beginning. Please reflect on the meaning of the Nicene Creed frequently. It was put into use in 325 A.D.
May your daily suffering bring Joy
Fred Schaeffer, OFS
(2/13/2024 bc342 revised)