There are different types of pain: physical and spiritual, one-time and
on-going, and natural or man-made.
The pain in my shoulder began a few weeks ago. Twist my arm in a certain way and an
extremely sharp pain screams from the joint and down my arm. At first I expected it would go away, as most
pains do, but last week I had it prayed over in hopes it would not prevent my
playing in a charity golf outing last Monday.
It didn’t (praise God!), but I think I shall soon visit a doctor to see
if he can work some healing --- or tell me that I have to get used to this
pain.
Losing a loved one brings a different sort of pain. For some, there is continuing worry about
their loved one --- are they in heaven?
For some, death of a loved one creates a pain which it seems won’t ever
go away. And for some, the death of a
loved one is a death to a part of themselves, and they struggle with feeling
partly dead and partly alive. I’ve lost
parents, siblings, and many friends.
Each loss was a sudden pain, no matter how much you prepare for it. In my experience, however, I’ve come to
appreciate the truth and inevitableness of death; each time is not without
pain, but I think each time the pain is a little less deep, and quicker to
heal. In a way, I guess, that is getting
used to the pain of death. But that
pain, which comes to everyone, I wish to no one.
I recall certain painful events in my life: divorce, rejection, and a sudden feeling of
the loss of God. I’ve come to see
physical death as “natural,” albeit a painful thing, but these other painful
events are not meant to be normal, and they are a pain not meant to be gotten
used to. They are spiritual pains you
never get used to. I’ve come to see that
physical death is part of God’s plan, and I’ve come to accept His plans, but
these other things seem to be part of man’s plans, and they can hurt more
deeply. Perhaps in some bigger picture I
cannot see, God will make good out of even these pains, but I find that physical
pain or even death is easier to get used to.
This week with the unfolding of the legal events in our
country, I’ve felt a pain. These are man-made
events, and I’m inclined to describe the pain I feel as similar to that of
divorce: this is not normal; this was
not meant to be. I can’t see getting
used to this pain. God created man and
woman, not some amorphous beings which can choose their gender. He blessed marriage of one man and one
woman. God defined why He created man
and woman.
But now some of God’s creations, like the angels cast out of
heaven, have said they will be as God, putting their own definition on His creation. And even as God felt pain at the loss of His
angels --- and later Adam and Eve --- He planned on sending His Son, to make
things right in all eternity. So I am
sure God has plans to make right, with justice (and mercy, we pray), these
plans of men who reject His ways.
Looking back, even Sodom had a purpose in God’s plans. There was rejection of God and His ways; then
there came suffering, but ultimately there came new life to God’s people. And He said:
“I will always be with you.”
I’ve come to see death, the pains of loss, as part of
life. And now perhaps like Sodom, the
events of this country also are part of a bigger plan for our life which we
cannot yet see. Yes, we feel pain, and perhaps
we will be made of feel even more intense pains, but I trust God will make it
right.
As I write this, it is Sunday after mass. And I look up at the large crucifix above the
altar. And I see great pain there, pain
that was certainly not meant to be, and yet became necessary because of the
sinful will of man. And so that pain had
great purpose, in the plan of God.
Who am I to judge?
Who am I to, like Lot, demand that God explain what is happening in our
country, our culture? Is the pain I feel
over recent events something normal like death, or something to never be
forgotten, like divorce? Will the hurt
go away, or get worse? I don’t
know. I shall continue to pray for
humility, and I shall continue to pray: “Jesus,
I trust in You.”
I shall continue to try and mean, in my heart, what I pray.
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Do well what depends
on me, and endure well what does not. –
Maximilian Kolbe
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“Be ye all of one mind.”
(1Pt 3:8-15) St. Peter realizes
that with our weakness and frailty we cannot preserve peace if we have no compassion
for the faults of others, if we do not know how to be kind to those who
displease us, and if we cannot bear blame with humility. Anyone who pretends that in achieving a life
of perfect harmony with others, he need never suffer any annoyance or
displeasure, and that he need never be contradicted or upset, has very little
experience of the reality of life and forgets that, far from being pure
spirits, we are limited by matter.
It even happens that sometimes, without wishing it and
without even the shadow of a bad intention, we work against one another. The remedy for these inevitable failures,
when the limitations of our nature are the cause of mutual distress, is that
suggested by St. Augustine: “Let more
room be given to charity.” … Let us
likewise practice greater humility, in order to overcome the resentments of our
self-love. Even if someone does act
against us with ill will, we should know how to forgive him.
--
Divine Intimacy, P649, Fifth Sunday
After Pentecost
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