It isn’t clear why the two disciples were on their way to the little town of Emmaus. Were they afraid of a violent reprisal by Jerusalem’s citizens, if they stayed behind? Were they looking for a place to hide like the others did in the upper room, only seeking a safer distance from the city? Perhaps they had family or business to attend to in Emmaus. Whatever the reason, it seems clear Cleopas and his friend sought distraction from suffering the loss of their dreams of a New Jerusalem, feeling abandoned by the ‘one’ who held so much promise of freedom and justice. So they went to a place which provided an escape, where in their suffering and loss they might sort out and reconcile in their minds the horrific events which had taken place. Some of us, too, may be feeling afraid and abandoned, seeking distractions from our suffering as we sit in our homes, ruminating about what happened, as we hide from an invisible enemy. Not surprisingly, some old, often asked, but very valid questions nonetheless have come up: “Are we suffering because God is punishing us, or because he has simply abandoned us?” Some, particularly challenged in their Faith, might even wonder, if non-believers are correct who say, “There is NO God! Otherwise, why would a God let his people suffer like this?” Well, at least in part, these questions probably originate from more secular views which are founded on more scientific and common-sense approaches to life. Whatever is opposed to the healthy functioning of a human being is considered “destructive”, “bad” or “ill” as in “illness”. Therefore, “suffering is a ‘bad’ thing”. Some might even say, “It is the work of the devil!” But IS it the devil’s work? Is it a ‘bad’ thing to suffer? Most certainly, it can be a highly negative, grossly ‘unpleasant’ thing to experience. No one wants to suffer, nor see anyone or any other living thing suffer, … and definitely not needlessly! After all, who would choose to suffer? But is this a clue to another understanding? In God’s own wisdom, is there suffering which is necessary, suffering with meaning, perhaps for our development, our metaphysical, spiritual growth, which isn’t about an earthly, ‘healthy’ disposition, but a suffering which might be welcomed, even desired? Certainly, a strange thing for our modern sensibility, but not so many years ago it was called “Redemptive Suffering”. Suffering can seemingly take away all that is meaningful in life. But Redemptive Suffering reminds us we are here not simply to secure meaning from life for ourselves, but that life requires of us to bring meaning to the lives of others, offering our trials and challenges to better their lives, just as Christ suffered for us. I like to call it “Restorative Suffering”, because if we choose to accept joyfully and humbly our suffering for others as Christ did on the cross, we will restore and rebuild both ourselves and the world around us with a grace which heals and removes the suffering of the whole world. We have libraries full of debate and commentary on suffering. We find that many of the saints asked God to increase their suffering to join their’s with Christ’s in gratitude and to assist with his salvation of all humankind. But the stories which move and convince me most of the mystical value and spiritual importance of suffering, are those of children, children suffering quietly, even joyfully, as little witnesses to the glory of God. In his book, “Littlest Suffering Souls”, Austin Ruse tells stories of children in our own time who endured terrible suffering with a resolute acceptance, remarkable inner strength for their age, and an exuberant love for Jesus: Little Audrey of Paris, France, was born in 1983. She would suffer brutally from leukemia, yet was always cheerful, never mentioning the pain, instead advising all to love each other. A priest friend, Fr. McLean, remarked how as an infant she once said, “God is real and therefore everything we do has to have relationship with him.” She died at 8 yrs of age. Margaret of McLean, Virginia, born in 1992, needed titanium rods inserted in her back to keep her spine from bending further from ‘spina bifida’. She never made a sound even when they began to protrude from her neck and shoulders, her attention always on others’ well-being. Her father said she had a simple, yet profound connection to God. She died smiling at 15 yrs of age. Brendan of Great Falls, Washington D.C., born in 1997 with Down Syndrome, would suffer 3 painful periods of leukemia. But during his struggles, visiting Rome with his parents, he would meet Pope John Paul II, after running toward him through the crowd. After his First Confession, his father teased him for being in the confessional so long: “You must have been really bad to get such a long penance”. Brendan said that actually he was speaking to Jesus. His father said, “Yes, he’s in the tabernacle, right?” Brendan said, “No. He’s in the bright light above it.” But the church was completely dark! He dies in 2011 with Fr. Drummond, the celebrant at his funeral, saying, “He was an extraordinary boy and not because he had Down Syndrome nor leukemia, but because of his immense and intense faith. Brendan’s best friend was Jesus. To Brendan, Jesus was just as tangible and present as you and I.” Austin asks, “What we can learn from these little, holy ones who seemed to have a more direct connection to God, a more real experience of the supernatural?” Where did such grace and strength come from, rare even among the most spiritually advanced adults.” Truly, suffering is one of the greatest mysteries, recognized in many different ways by many different faith systems: Buddhism teaches how to use the Noble Eighfold Path to avioid it; Hinduism sees suffering as a kind of karmic punishment for bad behaviour – past, present, and future – while Islam says the faithful mostly endure suffering as a test of faith. Only Christianity, particularly Catholicism, sees suffering as redemptive, “as a way to share in the suffering of Christ on the Cross, to lessen his pain, and to help him complete his redemption of the world”, as John Paul II taught in his letter “Salvifici doloris” or Redemptive Suffering. Proverbs 3:11-13 tells us: “My child, do not despise the Lord’s discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves the one he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.” But maybe the following analogy can put this discipline in another perspective: … Perhaps think of God, our Father, in terms of a Father who has given us, his child, a gift: the Gift of Life with all its attributes – temperaments, charisms, skills, and talents. Then, like any caring parent, he sends us to school – the school of life – to let the world teach and train us, so we learn that all the answers to life’s tests can be answered with one, single word: love. Meanwhile, the father does not abandon us, but often peers through the school window to follow our progress like any anxious parent. He does not scold or punish us in human terms, because he will not interfere with our Free Will. For example, if we play with fire, he does not punish us by putting our hands in the flames. Instead, he will let the fire itself teach us its lesson. Like a true Father, he disciplines us through experience itself, like letting the child, who is learning to ride a bike, fall off and on, learning to discipline and coordinate their own thoughts with their legs and arms. He let’s us develop, through experience, the necessary wisdom and strength we need to journey home from school. It is wisdom accumulated through our experience of many joys and sorrows, pleasure and pain, suffering and rejoicing, which is all founded on the love we have for him, our true Father, and for each other, which we bring home to Him once we graduate the great school of life. We will close with words of wisdom from Timothy Keller, noted writer and theologian on the subject of suffering as in his book, “Walking with God through Pain and Suffering”: One of the main teachings of the Bible is that almost no one grows into greatness or finds God without suffering, without pain coming into our lives like smelling salts to wake us up to all sorts of facts about life and our own hearts, to which we were blind. For reasons past our finding out, even Christ did not bring salvation and grace to us apart from infinite suffering on the cross. As he loved us enough to face the suffering with patience and courage, so we must learn to trust in him enough to do the same. As his … suffering led to resurrection power, so can ours.” So, let us never be afraid, never feel abandoned, nor feel we are being punished. Accept our suffering as lessons in the school of life, offer up our suffering as redemptive healing for the pain of others, and like St. Peter tells us today, let us set our faith and hope on God who raised Christ, our saviour, from the dead. Rev Fr Christopher Tracey Saint Joseph Roman Catholic Parish Saugeen Shores, Ontario
2 Comments
Jane Barrett
4/26/2020 09:48:53 am
Thank you Father Chris for these wise words on our suffering which is much needed at this difficult time. It’s still difficult to understand the “why” of the horrific, horrible tragedy the people of Nova Scotia are going through right now and their suffering. I know how much pain we feel for them, their suffering must be beyond anything.
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Dave Lepper
5/2/2020 10:56:27 am
Thank you Fr.C, Keep safe, our parish really needs you. Blessings, D
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Rev. Fr. Christopher Tracey
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