LUKE: The Gospel of Women; The Gospel of Touch

A certain Pharisee invited Jesus to dine with him,
and he entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at table.
Now there was a sinful woman in the city
who learned that he was at table in the house of the Pharisee.
Bringing an alabaster flask of ointment,
she stood behind him at his feet weeping
and began to bathe his feet with her tears.
Then she wiped them with her hair,
kissed them, and anointed them with the ointment.
When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this he said to himself,
“If this man were a prophet,
he would know who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him,
that she is a sinner.”
Jesus said to him in reply,
“Simon, I have something to say to you.”
“Tell me, teacher,” he said.
“Two people were in debt to a certain creditor;
one owed five hundred days’ wages and the other owed fifty.
Since they were unable to repay the debt, he forgave it for both.
Which of them will love him more?”
Simon said in reply,
“The one, I suppose, whose larger debt was forgiven.”
He said to him, “You have judged rightly.”
Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon,
“Do you see this woman?
When I entered your house, you did not give me water for my feet,
but she has bathed them with her tears
and wiped them with her hair.
You did not give me a kiss,
but she has not ceased kissing my feet since the time I entered.
You did not anoint my head with oil,
but she anointed my feet with ointment.
So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven;
hence, she has shown great love.
But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.”
He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
The others at table said to themselves,
“Who is this who even forgives sins?”
But he said to the woman,
“Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

This reading is an excellent example of the purpose underlying Luke’s writings

No book in the Bible is more dependent upon the witness of women or more concerned with their welfare and work than is the Gospel of Luke.  Luke’s Gospel so consistently recognizes the major role played by women in key salvation events, that it has appropriately been called a “Gospel of Women.”

Women are the major witnesses of the birth, crucifixion, burial and resurrection of Jesus.

Women follow him on his mission trips, offer him care and concern, and interact with him in startling ways.

Women, whether rich or poor, are persons of great interest and importance to Luke. Step by step he builds the picture of women as followers, believers, transformed sinners and credible witnesses in the remarkable narrative that he tells.

It is not that women are emphasized at the expense of men or to the exclusion of men. Luke takes care to balance a story or a parable about a woman with one about a man.

For example, Luke is the only Gospel writer to tell the story of the Prodigal Son. While the one that was lost and then found was male, a complimentary story follows in which a woman loses a coin and sweeps her entire house until she finds that coin and celebrates with her neighbors.

Luke’s Gospel is also a Gospel of touch.

Jesus touches and is touched by those whom we would not expect to find in such proximity to him.

He reaches out to touch a leper and two dead persons, both actions causing uncleanness in Hebrew law.

Parents  seek his touch for their infants.

He allows a sinful woman (as in this particular Gospel reading) and one with an issue of blood to touch him.

With his touch, he performs a healing on the ear of his captor.

In each of these cases, there is an affirmation of solidarity and sympathy for those with desperate needs of body and soul.

Even after His own resurrection, Jesus calls his disciples to touch him and thereby to discern for themselves the reality of his resurrection.

However, despite the fact that Luke’s Gospel is known as the “Gospel of Women” and the “Gospel of Touch,” it is not irrelevant to all people of today, men and women, who cannot simply reach out and touch the Lord Himself. It has very serious implications and importance to all who hear this Word.

This particular Gospel has been translated in a number of ways. Some translations quote Jesus as saying “You are forgiven, since you loved much.” Others quote Jesus as saying, “She has been forgiven and hence, she has shown great love.” Regardless of which translation we use, it is clear that Jesus equated forgiveness with love.

Love. A pretty strange word to use when we are referring to a woman whose business was so-called love. This woman was a prostitute. That was why Jesus’ host was so aghast at the fact that the woman entered his home and that Jesus did not object to her expression and ministrations of love and attention.

Certainly, this was not the type of love that Jesus was referring to. And, certainly, it was not the type of love that the woman was attempting to communicate and express to Jesus.

The love that Jesus was referring to was a love that so moved this woman’s heart that she couldn’t help but express it in some form. She couldn’t help but move beyond herself and act on the feelings that were stirring in her heart.

This need to express her love came at a great cost to her self. She knew that she was not welcomed at this dinner. She knew that she would be reproached, ridiculed, and despised as soon as her foot crossed that threshold. She knew that she couldn’t quietly tell Jesus of her love – but that she would need to make herself vulnerable to the eyes and spite of the men around her. And she knew that it would be men. She could not anticipate even the compassionate look of a fellow sister understanding her shame and need. Women simply were not invited to these types of dinners with Jesus at this time.

Yet, this love was so strong, that she forgot herself. She literally took up her cross to show her love and desire for the Lord. This love took on a need to embody it in some act: to wash the feet of Her Lord. To give Him back some small part of the compassion and love He had already shown her.

Is our love that strong? Do we love the Lord so much that we are compelled to act regardless of the risk? Do we need to reach out and touch someone — the Lord — because we just can’t keep that love bottled up any longer? We need to express it – or it will burst.

Love and touch. One does not exist without the other. One simply cannot honestly say that they love another if they do not act on that love. Touch in some form epitomizes that love. It brings forth the union of heart and soul.

I guess, personally, I am learning so much right now about the need, importance and significance of that touch.

Not that long ago, someone I know suffered an aneurysm. This was a complete surprise as there was no medical history of the problem in the family. It is especially poignant since she is only 38 and has two very young children. Right now, she can’t talk and she is completely paralyzed. She can’t reach out and touch. But her family can. It is when the family —her husband or one of her young sons – pats her hand or caresses her face that she seems most at peace. She might not physically feel the hand that is caressing her, but she can certainly recognize and appreciate the love that is intended.

In preparing this reflection, I came upon a poem written by Roy Croft, that I believe truly reflects the love the woman in today’s gospel and we are expected to communicate to Jesus and the people around us. I would like to share it with you. It is entitled, simply, “Love”

Love

I love you,

Not only for what you are,

But for what I am

When I am with you.

I love you,

Not only for what

You have made of yourself,

But for what

You are making of me.

I love you

For the part of me that you bring out;

I love you

For putting your hand

Into my heaped-up heart

And passing over

All the foolish, weak things

That you can’t help

Dimly seeing there,

And for drawing out

Into the light

All the beautiful belongings

That no one else had looked

Quite far enough to find.

I love you because you

Are helping me to make

Of the lumber of my life

Not a tavern

But a temple;

Out of the works

Of my every day

Not  reproach

But a song.

Roy Croft, quoted in Hazel Felleman,

The Best Loved Poems of the American People.

My wish for you – each of you – today is love. The kind of love that so overwhelms your heart that you are on fire for the Lord and are compelled to go out, like the woman of our Gospel, and wash the feet of our same Lord with your own tears and give of yourself to your neighbors. God bless you!

A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS

 There are a number of verses in the Bible that really hit me. I am sure that the same is true for you.

  I can’t help but hear—“Come to me all who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest”—without feeling as if I have been hugged by the Lord.

Who here can add one day to their life by worrying about it” always calms me down and forces me to realize that it’s all in God’s hands — not mine — and He will take care of it.

“No one can take them out of my hand,” reassures me that no matter what, I do I will always belong to Jesus. He knows who I am and will never forget me.

What a comfort these have been throughout my life.

Each of these verses fills me with a very strong sense of comfort and security. They are like a hug from the Lord. They are a promise and a reminder of His incredible love.

We simply cannot be taken from Jesus. No matter what, we were baptized into this faith. We belong to the Lord. We even bear His name as Christians. We are and will always be His. No one can take us from Him. That is simply phenomenal.

A while ago, I read a book entitled “Heaven and Hell.” It is Christian fiction and I can’t recall the author’s name. It is not a reference book. It is just a made-up story of how the particular author views heaven and hell. While it is very creative, its theology is a bit warped. However, there is one scene in that book that remains in my mind and which I could not help but recall in preparing this reflection.

The major male character in the story dies and goes to heaven. His wife died in the same car accident. However, she did not remain in heaven. After the judgment, she was sent to hell since she never acknowledged Jesus as her personal savior.

According to the book’s author, those who were admitted into heaven would automatically forget those loved ones who did not accept Jesus during their life time.

For example, if your father did not believe in Jesus, then you wouldn’t remember anything about your father once you entered heaven.

This was intended to keep the residents of heaven from being sad and missing those whom they had loved before.

The particular male character of this book, though, could and did remember his wife. The memories were so strong that he decided he wanted to come up with a plan to rescue his wife from her suffering in hell.

It’s quite an adventure story, really. Even the angels take part in the elaborate plot which might fit better in Star Wars or Battlestar Galactica.

At any rate, the man asks his mother, who had been admitted into heaven, whether this means he will be thrown out of heaven. He wonders if God might get so angry at him for coming up with this plot, that he will become like Satan and the fallen angels and thrown out of heaven.

His mother responds with an experience she had with Jesus in heaven. She, too, feared angering Jesus and being removed from heaven. I guess being a trouble maker might be in the genes for this particular family.

At any rate, Jesus told her to hold on to His arm as hard as she could. He then grabbed her arm with both hands. He asked her to try to remove her arm from His grasp. Of course, she could not. Jesus then told her the same thing He has just told us in this Gospel reading:

“No one can take you out of my hands.”

And this — the Gospel — isn’t fiction.  We know it is true.

We have Jesus’ Word on it.

No matter what, we are secure in His love;

No matter what, He knows who we are;

No matter what, we are His.

No matter what, we know who He is and recognize His voice.

Jesus knows His sheep and His sheep hear His voice. Faith allows us to connect with Jesus through prayer. What else is prayer, but a way to communicate with Jesus, who loves us and takes us to the Father.

Each of you recognize His voice.

You love the sound of His voice so much that you study it in the readings each day;

You love the sound of His voice so much that you respond with your prayers each morning;

You love and want Him so much that you come to receive Him in Communion.

What an incredible Lord we have.

What a wonderful sense of security and love is given to us in our faith and through our Sacraments.

Now, let us move on to give Jesus the gift of our voices — our praise and gratitude that we are forever in the palm of His hand

THE POWER OF WOMEN

 

In Jn 19:25-27, we learn of the faithful few who stayed with Jesus and, by witnessing His death, served as witnesses of faith to not only their generation but our own. What is most remarkable about this reading is that, but for one male disciple, the only ones present to support Jesus were women. It was not Peter, the first Pope, whose courage failed him in the garden and then at the temple courtyard. It was not James, the first Bishop of Jerusalem, who stood by His Lord and Savior. It was not any one other than, presumably, John—the youngest of all Jesus’ favored disciples; a youth of probably 15 years.

 

It took courage to stand by one who was being crucified. This was a public disgrace. Those who were affiliated with the condemned would bear the shame throughout the rest of their life.

 

Mary was a woman who clearly loved and dared. In the story of Jesus, she first appears when an angel announces that she will bear a child. Her response is to boldly sing, “My soul magnifies the Lord!” This song, known as the Magnificat, praises God who brings down the mighty and raises up the lowly. Mary could be very tender as a mother is to her child. She could also be very strong. She had to be strong to witness the manner in which her beloved child was treated by the religious leaders. She had to be strong to witness and stand by her only son as he was beaten, led to his death and murdered by the religious and political authorities of the time.

 

Mary of Magdalene, too, was a woman of courage. We know that she was a woman who was freed from several demons. We do not know what those demons were. We do know, however, that she loved Jesus dearly. She was often numbered as one of His closest followers; offering her support and love throughout the course of His ministry.

 

We know that she was a woman of compassion. Her love for Jesus was beyond words. It was this compassion that enabled her to stand at the foot of the cross. It was this compassion that enabled her to witness the cruel and horrendous treatment of the one she most loved.

 

Consider, too, the only person who willingly assisted Jesus over the course of his abuse. The woman known as Veronica offered a cloth to Jesus as He walked to His death.

 

 These acts of love and faith were so remarkable that Jesus took notice. How do we know He took notice?

 

Let’s consider Veronica: A simple cloth pressed to the face of our Savior took on the image of our Lord. That same cloth is still revered as holy. There are viewings of the cloth with the sacred image in Rome. Now, Veronica never asked for this holy token. She only gave of her heart and her faith was rewarded so grandly, that we still reap the benefit of that gift today.

 

Let’s consider Mary: I can’t imagine watching the death of my child. There are no words that can describe the passion and sorrow that was invading Mary’s heart. Yet the one thing that Jesus knew His mother needed, was the gift He gave her. She would be cared for by the only disciple that loved Him enough to be present at His death. But again, even that was not enough love for our Lord. Not only did He give Mary a family, knowing that He was going to depart this earth, but He gave us a mother. The only thing remaining to Jesus at the time of His death was His mother. Even that He gave. And He gave her to us.

 

Mary Magdalene: So, how did Jesus reward Mary Magdalene for her faith? She is known now and forever as the Apostle of the Apostles. She, who could not properly be called a disciple simply because she was a woman, became the chief Apostle. She was the first to witness the Resurrected Jesus. It was she who was sent to announce the Resurrection to the closest followers of Jesus: the same ones that deserted Him in death. It was she who communicated Jesus’ first message to the men that had been allowed to follow Him in life.

 

Jesus is love incarnate. His love is amazing and impossible to fathom. The immensity of this love is so strongly evidenced in how He treated the women of His day. That love is even more impressive and awesome when we consider how He awarded those who were present on the most awful, and wonderful, day of His life.

 

Courageous women of the New Testament offer role models for today’s Christian women, who are compelled by Jesus and his teachings to be transformed and to transform the world.

 

However, in the same way that the lessons taught in the Gospels pertain to men and women, so, too, does this compassion of Jesus as evidenced to those women who served as witnesses to His death, apply to all, men and women both.

 

I think, perhaps, what impacts me the most about this particular reading and how Jesus responded to those women, is that Jesus was so happy with the personal nature of the love of these women. Faith and love are wonderful and certainly desired by Jesus. But it is this compassionate love that seems to be the marker of the day. Each of these three women went above and beyond the minimum. Jesus responded to that love far beyond the minimum. These women, and the way that they wore their heart on their sleeves and happily gave their heart to the Lord, are the model that Jesus places before us today and every day. Indeed, it was exactly what Paul was speaking of when he said, “and there abides faith, hope and love; but the greatest of these is love” (1 Cor 13:13).

PEACE BE WITH YOU: THE SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATON

Peace I give you…..

Almost every morning, we learn that a large number of people were killed in a road side bombing in Iraq or Syria.

Peace I give you…..

Not so long ago, we were shocked when so many college students were murdered as they attended a French class at Virginia Tech or school children were shot down in Sandy Hook Elementary School in Conecticutt.

Peace I give you…..

Not long ago, three third graders—-9 year olds folks—- were arrested because they planned to tie up and kill their teacher.

That’s all just in our time.

But remember….peace I give you….

Just after Jesus prayed this prayer, He was abandoned by His closest friends —- and yet He prays…..

Peace I give you….

Jesus is betrayed by one of his chosen 12 and then denied by the future leader of His Church …. And yet He prays….

Peace I give you….

Jesus suffers terrible and unjust torture and, ultimately, death.

If this peace is supposed to be a gift, could I possibly pass? Could I take curtain number 2?

Yet, we know that this peace is a great gift. It is the parting gift of our own Lord ———-to not only His disciples ———— but to all who will follow Him in the world.

So what exactly is this peace?

The world defines Peace as:

•             freedom from war, or the time when a war or conflict ends;

•             freedom from conflict or disagreement among people or groups of people; and

•             the absence of violence or other disturbances within a state.

We certainly can’t rely on the world’s definition of peace. I can’t recall a time when some country somewhere was not fighting with another. There will always be political tensions throughout the world.

For heaven’s sake, peace is even impossible in most families. Kids bicker. Spouses argue. Friends nag. If we can’t have peace in families, how can we expect it in the world.

Yet, there must be something to this peace. And, indeed, there is— so long as it is based in God.

I have been fortunate enough to have seen what that peace looks like.

A while ago, my junior high kids had a class on a Sunday night. At this particular class, the topic was Suffering and Faith. Now I do tend to prepare things just a little bit ahead of time. So months prior to the scheduled event I asked the speakers if they could lead a panel discussion on this topic.

Two of the particular speakers live their lives out as beacons of faith, despite their own sufferings, The other has the opportunity to minister and witness first-hand the sufferings of some of our homebound or hospitalized parishioners.  As I witness the faith of the first two speakers, the peace they express as a result of their relationship with the Lord, is apparent. I wanted the kids to basically get a handle on this…..make the connection between this peace and the need for faith in and love for Jesus.

As I said, all was planned well in advance—-about 8 months in advance.

Now, just days before one speaker  was scheduled to take part in the panel, she received some pretty bad news.She was told she had less than a handfull of months to live. I have to say, that I never expected her to be able to take part on the panel. But, she did and the impact she had on the kids was immense.

They could see the impact and importance of faith in her life. She was totally at peace with the fact that she was moving on to live with the Lord.

They also felt free enough to talk about the impact their faith has in their daily life. Remember these were junior high youths!  It is so important that we remember and recognize how much more difficult the lives and experiences of these youth are from our own experiences when we were young. It is so much harder now.

But they were very open and talked about how they too express their faith and find peace in their world-

•             In standing up for the kid that is bullied;

•             Talking about their faith in an environment that discourages any such discussion; and

•             Behaving in a Christian way despite some very strong peer pressure.

I wanted my speakers to serve as examples of that  peace and faith. They did. But these youth became just as strong an example to me of that same peace and faith.

Each of us is invited to experience this same peace in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. This is, indeed, the sacrament of peace. We are given an incredible opportunity to bare our souls to God — to open our hearts to let God know where we have fallen and to seek God’s help for the future.

This is peace. It is certainly not the same definition that the world would use. But it is a peace that is sure and certain.

It allows us to stand tall in faith, even when our world is falling down around us.

It gives us hope, when we know we have made mistakes.

And it brings joy, when we recognize the incredible love of God in our lives.

This peace is a gift from God in our own lives. It is also a gift we are to offer to the whole world.

St. Francis of Assisi is the composer of a very well-known prayer that speaks to this gift of peace. I would like to close with that prayer.

Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek

to be consoled as to console;

to be understood as to understand;

to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen

A Remarkable Resemblance!

On a wall near the main entrance to the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas, is a portrait with the following inscription:

“James Butler Bonham—no picture of him exists. This portrait is of his nephew, Major James Bonham, deceased, who greatly resembled his uncle. It is placed here by the family that people may know the appearance of the man who died for freedom.”

No literal portrait of Jesus exists either. But the likeness of the Son, who makes us free, can be seen in the lives of His true followers.

I was struck by the fact that the memorial used the picture of the nephew to depict the war hero due to the strength of the resemblance. I realized that, if I had enough room in this blog, I could just as easily add names and photographs of those I have known and worked with over the course of the years that bear that same great resemblance to Jesus. I know the face of Jesus, since I have seen it in theirs as they profess their faith, share their time, and constantly search for creative ways to teach others about their Lord and the beauty of their relationship with Jesus.

I bet you could name some names, too. They sit right next to you in Church. They work in the cubicle next to yours. They sit across the table from you at dinner. What are the qualities that make one so resemble Jesus that we would recognize the Son of God upon viewing the face of our neighbor?

One person in particular has truly demonstrated a very strong resemblance to Jesus. That person is Pope Francis. In all honesty, I think I have become a bit of a “poparazzi.”  (Sorry, but no spell checker in the world is going to accept that spelling—I have to take credit in creating and mangling it myself). In particular, a recent video of the Pope was even shown on the network news a few days ago. This video showed the Pope at a conference for families at the Vatican. A little boy found his way up to the altar and stood right by the Pope. He couldn’t even be bribed off the stage with candy! The Pope was not bothered in the least. He acknowledged the little boy, smiled, and frequently caressed his head as he continued on with the conference.

This truly reminded me of Jesus when the children sought his attention and the apostles tried to steer them away. This Gospel story has always told me more about Jesus than perhaps all others. A child has no guile. They either love you or they hate you. They didn’t come to Jesus because of anything they thought He could do for them or because they loved His theology or for the performance of a miracle. They came to Him because they recognized His love and acceptance. They sought out His compassion and attention. In these same ways, I think that little child on the stage with the Pope showed us by his actions the identity of one who bears the image of Christ.

It is, indeed, a remarkable resemblance!

 

PS: The video URL is: http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=video+of+pope+with+child&FORM=VIRE8#view=detail&mid=05B155CE084737D6197905B155CE084737D61979

Martha, Martha, Martha: The God-given Gift of Freedom

Perhaps it is because even today’s women remain primarily responsible for the running of a household and the hospitality extended to guests, that the sharpest criticism to the story of Martha and Mary in Luke’s Gospel (10:38-42) is often voiced by women. This criticism can run something like:

“That’s easy for Jesus to say. But, I bet He would sing a different song if nothing was on the table.”  OR

“I work hard feeding my family and welcoming guests. Isn’t what I do important to the Lord?”

However, this reading really has nothing to do with either of these comments. Neither is this verse saying that prayer or faith is greater than works. Both are very important.

The Gospels speak highly of faith:

• The faith of the Syrophoenician  woman is applauded by Jesus when she persists in requesting the healing of her daughter even after Jesus tells the woman that it is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs (Mk 7:24-30); and
• Jesus is amazed at the faith of the Roman soldier who seeks healing for his servant, but does not require Jesus to journey to his home (Mt 8:5-13).

Yet, Jesus also speaks highly of actions:

•  Those who feed the hungry and help those in need will be rewarded in the Kingdom of Heaven (Mt 25: 31-46); and
• The Good Samaritan is praised for his neighborly and loving acts to one deemed an enemy, but recognized only as one in need (Lk 10:29-37).

In fact, it is this moral and story of the Good Samaritan that leads right into the Gospel reading we are discussing today.

It would then seem that Jesus, within just five (5) verses, is completely contradicting Himself:

• In the Good Samaritan, Jesus seems to teach us that it is most important to act as a good neighbor and not just be people of faith like the Levite and priest who ignored the injured man at the side of the road. BUT
• In today’s reading, Jesus seems to teach us that it is more important to sit and listen to Jesus in faith then it is to be hospitable in serving the Lord.

Wow! What’s a person to do?

This mess can be easily straightened out if we remember that Martha, Mary and Lazarus were not your run of the mill followers of Jesus. They were rather well-to-do. There were servants available to clean the house, cook the meals, and extend the basic hospitality to Jesus. Jesus would not have gone hungry, even if Martha had not opted to run the kitchen.

So, why did Martha do it? I think we must assume that Martha was acting, at least initially, with the best of intentions. She desired to make the dinner special; to offer her best for the Lord. In Martha’s heart, the best gift she could give to the Lord, to demonstrate her faith, were her talents as cook and hostess. Indeed, these are fine gifts.

However, as the dinner wore on, Martha got tired. She noticed her sister, Mary, was not helping. In Martha’s mind, Mary was not doing anything.  Mary, however, was giving her own gift of seeking the Lord and being present in faith. Since Martha failed to recognize this alternate gift, she grew resentful and jealous.

This story reminds me of a similar story included in the book: He and I. This book includes Gabrielle Bossis’ reflections of communications or messages she received from Jesus in the late 1940’s and early 1950’s.  In one (1) such reflection, Jesus tells this story:

“A man had two daughters both devoted to him. The elder was actively engaged in her father’s business not only  for the love of him but also for the love of work, which wholly absorbed her attention. The other daughter was so closely united with her father, her mind constantly in tune with his, that her work never hindered her from thinking  of him with ever-increasing tenderness. Which of these two daughters, do you think, was the greater comfort to her father?

“….Believe this, and you will come to Me more sincerely and gaily (you notice how I repeat that word [- gaily]) because  you will realize that you give me joy.”[1]

Jesus looks to our intent, when we either respond in faith or act in service.

It was Mary’s unselfish and loving intent that was the better part:

• She did not resent the alternate gifts as expressed by her sister;
• Throughout the story, her good intent never changes; and
• She was wholly with the Lord.

In this way, the message of today’s reading remains consistent with that of the Good Samaritan.

Martha’s actions were not bad. I am sure that, at least initially, her intent was very good. It was only when she lost sight of her pure intention and failed to recognize that others might offer different, but equally precious gifts to the Lord that she faltered.

I hope that we, too, may choose the better part. That we, like Mary, might learn to lovingly recognize and use our own gifts for the glory of God’s Kingdom, but always recognize and allow the varied, but equally precious gifts of others to flourish as well.

---

[1] Bossis, Gabrielle, He and I, p. 341 (Sherbrooke, QC (Canada): Editions Mediaspaul, 1969) (Emphasis added).

Does God Comfort Us When We Are Sad?

God certainly offers us comfort whenever we are sad or experiencing difficult situations. However, it may well depend upon timing and how we define comfort.

There are many occasions in the Bible where particular characters experienced severe hardship without apparent immediate consolation or comfort. Job lost his children, his servants, his health, his livestock, and all of his worldly possessions. While he underwent this loss, he suffered the ridicule and accusations of his peers. Even his wife told him “to curse God and die.” (Job 2:9). Joseph was sold into slavery due to the jealousy of his own brothers. He was accused of rape by his employer’s wife and sent to a presumed life-time of prison and misery. He lost his family, freedom, and reputation.

Most importantly, consider Jesus. There are many stories in the New Testament that describe the experiences of Jesus:

*    Jesus went into the desert to fast and pray in anticipation of commencing His mission. Forty days of fasting with no food and little water would cause pain and discomfort for any individual. In addition to the physical rigors of this fast, Jesus was attacked spiritually through the temptations of the devil. Despite His physical weakness, Jesus stood strong in His faith and successfully withstood these temptations.

*     It is an incredible blessing that the Bible includes the story of the Passion of Jesus. It serves as an example that we, too, may passionately ask God for help should we experience sorrow or suffering. It removes any stigma of acknowledging our pain and confusion. If Jesus could express His hope that the will of God be changed, how much joy can we take from knowing we can follow in the example of our own Savior? Yet, it does exemplify the extreme suffering of Jesus. Fear and dread of circumstances can cause great affliction and sorrow. The Father did send an angel to Jesus. However, the angel was sent not to comfort Jesus, but to offer Him the cup of agony and pain.

*     How much more pain and sadness can be experienced than that of Jesus on the cross when he said, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matt 27:46)? Here, the one without sin and blemish is masked by the sin and blemish of each of us. The Father has turned His back on His own Son. He cannot recognize Him for the sin that has been placed upon Jesus’ shoulders. The Father cannot accept sin into the Kingdom. Never has anyone been as alone as Jesus: bearing the sin of all as well as utter disregard by His Father.

Yet, all of these stories have one thing in common.

Despite outer appearances,each character retained his faith and found spiritual comfort and nurturance from that faith. God did console Job and reward him for his faith. He raised more children, hired more servants, and saw his material wealth multiply greatly. Joseph was recompensed for his faith and hope in God. He served as the advisor to the Pharaoh and ultimately saved his family as well as many of his own kinsmen from the impact of a horrendous drought. Jesus did receive the comfort and consolations of God. The Angels ministered to him in the desert. He fulfilled the will of God and, as a result, sits at the right hand of the Father. He rose from the dead and, through His redemptive act, has opened wide the gates of Heaven to all who believe and place their trust in Him.

If comfort is accorded the secular definition of a “relief in affliction, consolation, solace,… a state of ease and satisfaction, of bodily wants, with freedom from pain and anxiety…”,  then one might not be said to experience it at the actual time of suffering. Yet, if it is defined as hope, then it exists even prior to our acknowledged need. It is this hope and faith which is evident in the experiences of Job, Joseph and Jesus and which assures us of God’s presence and caring even while we endure severe hardship.  It is faith that assures us of God’s promise and sustains us to persevere.

No one expresses this concept better than David through the Psalms. We are all familiar with the 23rd Psalm. Consider these verses and reflect on how they assure us of God’s presence and comfort even when and while we confront evil and pain around us:

Even when I walk through a dark valley,

I fear no harm for you are at my side;

your rod and staff give me courage. (Ps 23:4)

So long as we keep our faith and trust in the Lord, we will indeed receive the spiritual comfort and assurance of the Lord (Ps 121).

Why does God seem to dally in providing comfort? Jesus has also provided that answer. God seeks persistence in prayer. Jesus expressed this desire through many of His parables. Consider, just for example, the man begging bread from his neighbor in the middle of the night (Lk 11:5-8) or the woman begging the unjust judge for relief (Lk 18:1-8). If we received immediate relief, there would be no need for such persistence and we might not even recognize the answer as having come from God. Neither would we be given the opportunity to offer God the gift of our faith and hope in His providence and love.

Secular experiences of comfort may not come when we want it and when we most feel its need. In all cases, though, where we retain faith and hope in the goodness and love of God, as did Job, as did Joseph, and as did Jesus, comfort will come in the time directed by God. We can exemplify our faith through our persistence in prayer and supplication. Then we, too, may expect to receive the consolations and comfort of God in response to our own acts and expressions of faith.