Saturday, December 14, 2019
A highlight in my life is participation in a multi-generational Catholic Scripture Study with wise, faith-filled women who possess plenty of life experience. The Bible comes alive as we discuss our study answers and digest the Commentary section. I always leave armed with “nuggets” to process within and carry into our broken, but beautiful, world. Bible study is a tremendous blessing and an important fuel to my faith.
A member shared something profound. She attended a Vespers service at a nearby abbey where monks were receiving their names. The abbot said, “Whenever God calls good from you, it won’t be an easy path.” As humans, we struggle in a multitude of ways. Some stretches of life are difficult, dark, and lead to despair. My friend reminded us, “Our suffering calls good out – if we can see it that way, and that is grace.”
An excerpt from our John 9 commentary about God allowing suffering struck us as important during our discussion. “God knows what good often comes (which often depends on how we react) from what seems to us a great misfortune (Romans 8:28). An event that brings us to God, that helps us see our own wrongs or our need for Him, causes a growth in us of trust as we turn to God or have recourse to Scriptures such as John 15:7.” (It was as though “Ding, ding, ding!!” rang in my head when I absorbed those words, as that was my experience following Evelyn’s accident. I delve into this concept in Hope Upon Impact.
It is curious how an idea at the forefront of one’s mind seems ubiquitous. Each time I was pregnant, suddenly there were expectant mothers everywhere! Likewise, this theme of God’s grace allowing us to accept suffering emerged again this morning, 12/14/19, during the wonderful Holy Family School of Faith Daily Rosary Meditations Podcast by Dr. Mike Scherschligt (Sign up – schooloffaith.com). While meditating on Passive Purification, when something occurs in our life that we did not choose, do not like, and cannot change, we accept it with trust in Divine Providence and offer it with love to God. Mike explained that this is where God, through heavy interior trials, works within our souls. A key aspect of this process is our personal cooperation, rather than resistance, through faith, trust, acceptance, and love. We should trust in God in very circumstance, even in adversity. (Paraphrased summary from Scherschligt’s December 14 John of the Cross Notes document)
I believe the world needs more hope. We may put our hope in the Lord by trusting His will at all times. Have faith. Hope on! God is good.
References:
Catholic Scripture Study, Inc., Series III, The Gospel of John – A Symbolic Cure, John 9:1-41, p. 2 by Sister Marie Therese, 1988-1989.
Holy Family School of Faith Daily Rosary Meditations Podcast Notes, Dr. Mike Scherschligt – December 14, 2019 John of the Cross Notes. www.schooloffaith.com