Many other people also died violently in our violent country, our violent world.
These things cause me to have my own "dark night of the soul" as Mother Teresa did, pretty much for her whole working life. She had had a personal message from Jesus whilst on a train ride one day, to do what she did with her life, but after that, she felt, she never heard from Jesus again.
And that's the way I feel during these crises. Not that I have not personally heard from Jesus, but that all the people in the world who claim to be believers haven't. Or that they've twisted His words in their heads into "I can think anything I want because I was baptized."
Or something.
Because the world at large has not changed much since Jesus returned to Heaven. Huns and Vikings laid villages to waste. Crusaders on holy missions did the same. Inquisitions, revenge.
I have heard good Christian people tell me why torture is okay is some circumstances. I reply that I can't think that Jesus would agree. He knows all about torture, does He not, being a victim of it and all?
Jesus does ask the impossible. Love, God's love, only, no matter what anyone is doing to you. Compassion, God's compassion for everyone, no matter what they've done.
"Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."
The candle in my dark night, is that it is possible to try harder. And we are slightly more civilized then we used to be.
Slightly.
So try harder.
8 comments:
St. George and St. Adalbert.
I just saw some silliness on FB about some pictures that "restore faith in humanity," as if humanity could be a source of hope for us!
It is a great comfort, though, that Jesus did not leave us alone to deal with all that humanity is capable of, from bombers to Kermit Gosnell, etc. For me, as long he is with me--and he promises us that--I can do my best to do better and better in my little corner of the world. This tiny bit is not impossible for me, nor for any of us. Prayers for all of us, Sister--it is hard not to be discouraged sometimes.
A good book that has a powerful anecdote on forgiveness is "Thrift Store Saints: Meeting Jesus 25 cents at a Time" by Jane F. Knuth
The excerpts of the book are available free on google books.
Amen.
“Even if the forces of darkness appear to prevail, those who believe in God know that evil and death do not have the final say. Christian hope is based on this truth; at this time our prayerful trust draws strength from it.”
- Pope John Paul II
Courage, Sister. I know what you are feeling because I felt that way myself. Sometimes it's as if I'm hanging by a thread, horrified by each new atrocity that befalls innocent people. But then I remember why I have hope, why in the face of violence, I can have joy in my heart. In the end, good will triumph over evil. And in the meantime, I need to make certain it triumphs everywhere I can affect it, especially with my own behavior.
Courage and joy is my prayer for you tonight.
There is a fantastic article called "Even at the Hour of Apparent Defeat, Supreme Good Triumphs" in the great collection New Insights on the Gospels. It is a real eye-opener for those in troubled times.
Excerpts of the book available at: http://heralds.ca/newinsights/
Hello Sister,
I need a Patron to pray with on behalf of a little girl (3 years old) who is showing some serious behavior problems, (mostly directed at her siblings.) I know that I should be praying rosaries, but do you have any other suggestions that, in addition, I might work on?
Thank you,
Ann
Sister, how to you pray for somebody else, especially when it's a case as big as this? I'm serious. I never know what to pray once I get past, "Lord, help So-and-so," or, "Lord, help the victims of the tsunami in the Pacific," or whatever the event is. Because it seems so presumptuous of me to tell God what to do--HOW to help--and because their needs are so overwhelming, whatever I ask for won't be enough and I'll miss something important, or get something wrong. Besides, won't a loving God help those people without me asking? I'm Protestant, but this is where I've found a Rosary has come in handy in the past, even though I'm sure I'm using it "wrong." I'd work through a section of beads while saying Hail, Mary's or Lords Prayers with my mind on one aspect of whoever I was praying for's suffering or need, then move on to another aspect with the next section. That way I didn't have to worry with getting the words right and could vary and waver with my intention, and God got my point(s). But...that still doesn't feel like the best way to do it. Any other ideas?
this was my moment with MOTHER THERESA--it was the day she died. i had cried all day long--hard sobs for the world who lost this beautiful person. that night i was in bed and i felt someone standing near me. i looked up and there she was--with her hands clasped by her face. i opened my arms and she came into them and we huggged. and i cried. she spoke the words slowly, "where was GOD?" i answered "He sent YOU" a few seconds later and she disappeared.
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