ABIDE IN SUFFERING AND SORROW

“Teacher, do you not care if we perish?” Mark 4:38

We are well into Lent and I encourage us all to keep on keeping on with the commitments we made to the Lord for this season of transformation. We can start fresh each day asking for the special graces to open our hearts in deeper ways to God’s love and wisdom.

This year I felt the Lord calling me to a phrase one of my directees had shared with me awhile back—uncluttered devotion. So before Lent, I prayed that the Lord would give me ONE THING as my primary focus for Lent. During that time of prayer, a number of my directees who live in different states shared with me that they were going to pray through a book of prayers and meditations by Sister Josephine Garrett, CSFN—WILDERNESS WITHIN. I was drawn to the title and to the fact that it was coming to me from different directions, from women who did not know each other. I was also reminded of a Bible verse that spoke to my heart years ago:
Hosea 2:14.  “Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her”. The verse speaks of a time of intimate reconnection, where God woos His people away from distractions to speak tenderly to them. Don’t we all want that?!!

This month I’d like to share with you one of the reflections by Sr. Josephine. I will admit that I resisted entering into this meditation at first. I’m in a season of great joy awaiting the births of three new grandchildren—all my three daughters will be bringing new life into our family and the world–so the idea of recalling a time of deep suffering didn’t really appeal to me. But the Lord wouldn’t let me pass over this invitation. And as it turns out, it proved to be a deeply meaningful encounter with our loving God. So…I leave you with Sr. Josephine, and encourage you to open your heart deeply to God’s love through suffering.

The first time I realized the closeness of Jesus during times of suffering, my instinctive reaction was one of irritation. I thought, If you’re so close and you’re God, why did I even have to suffer? I have grown past that, but I share it with you now so that if it is your experience, you know you’re not alone.  I had to realize that Christ never promises us that his presence will remove the reality of suffering; in fact, he promises that we will have trouble in the world (see John 16:33).

During the COVID pandemic, Pope Francis gave an extraordinary urbi et orbi blessing (to the city and to the whole world), and I was captivated. This elderly man slowly walked out into a strikingly empty St. Peter’s Square, needing assistance up and down the stairs. I was captivated by his frailty, by the dark, rainy sky, and by the brilliance of his white cassock against the dark sky. I was captivated by the faith; if it were not true, then the only other thing it could have been was absurd. Pope Francis preached on the disciples in the storm from the fourth chapter of Mark’s gospel—their frustration with a sleeping Jesus, and their willingness to cry out to him for help.

Pope Francis described our capacity for and dependency on storms and suffering to remind us that we are creatures in desperate need of a savior. Then, the Blessed Sacrament was placed on a temporary altar in the entrance of St. Peter’s Basilica. After a time of Adoration, this physically feeble man, strong in faith, lifted Jesus from the altar in the monstrance and blessed the city and the entire world, which before him was cast in darkness. Why was I captivated? Because Jesus was with us. The world was an absolute mess. I am certain you had some share in that mess in one way or another. Int this extraordinary moment of blessing, a man who could not even make it up and down stairs on his own dared to bless the world with the sacramental presence of the Lord. He showed us our Lord asleep in the stern of the boat, reminding us he is indeed still in our boat and has not abandoned us. HE ABIDES MOST PROFOUNDLY IN OUR NEED FOR HIM, IN OUR SORROW. Pope Francis dared us to wake the Lord and cast all our anxieties on him, for he cares for us (see 1 Peter 5:7).

REFLECT:  Recall a time of deep suffering in your life and look back at it with Jesus to see where he was in all of it and what he was doing. I encourage you to place a crucifix in your hands for this prayer, or place yourself in front of an image of a crucifix or a crucifix on a wall. Once you finish the review of the experience with Jesus, speak to him as you would a friend. Share with Jesus what you noticed as you reviewed the time of suffering.

PRAY: Jesus, our Savior, you came to share life with us, to stand with us in our joys and sorrows. We know our world is full of trouble—we see it in our own lives—yet that does not stop you from approaching us. ABIDE WITH ME, ESPECIALLY IN MY SUFFERING, AND TEACH ME TO LEAN ON YOU, FOR YOU CAME TO HOLD US CLOSE. AMEN. 

I will close with a prayer of St. Benedict. Some of you know that I am a Benedictine oblate affiliated with Subiaco Abbey here in Arkansas. This prayer will give you a taste of what I love about Benedictine spirituality. It’s a great way to start the day.

A PRAYER OF ST. BENEDICT (480-547)

Gracious and holy Father,
please give me:
Intellect to understand you;
reason to discern you;
diligence to seek you;
wisdom to find you;
a spirit to know you;
a heart to meditate on you;
ears to hear you;
eyes to see you;
a tongue to proclaim you;
a way of life pleasing to you;
patience to wait for you;
and perseverance to look for you.

Grant me:
a perfect end,
your holy presence.
A blessed resurrection,
and life everlasting.
Amen.

Photo credit:  Cathy Raney, Hot Springs Village, Arkansas