WE should always expect the
possibility for us to fall
into some state of helplessness, not only of the transitory type but
also of the permanent one. That’s just being realistic. And upon that
possibility, let’s make the necessary preparation, building up the
appropriate attitude, skills and practices to tackle it.
There’s always hope even in our worst scenario. And that’s
because God never leaves us, but continues to love and care for us, in
spite of all. He gives us everything we need to handle this situation.
We should be quick to realize this truth of our faith, and
act accordingly. Let’s avoid aggravating the situation by avoiding
falling into discouragement and depression, a fertile ground for the
devil to tempt us into worse conditions. The devil obviously wants us
to be alienated as much as possible from God. Rather, like the
prodigal son, let’s return to God asking for mercy which he readily
gives.
God, of course, does not spare us from falling into some
serious, and sometimes insoluble predicaments. That’s because he will
always respect the limitations of our nature that can sometimes lead
us to some trouble, and more so, our own freedom, no matter how much
we misuse and abuse it and lead us to sin, the worst evil.
And even if personally we have not sinned or do not seem
to deserve a particular burden, we all suffer just the same as an
effect of all the sins of men, ours and those of others. We should not
be surprised by this and waste time complaining about it.
In fact, it can happen that those who suffer the most are
the saintly ones who are especially chosen by God to bear the
consequences of the sins of all men. Those who are more Christ-like
will certainly share more in the redemptive suffering of Christ. In a
sense, suffering is a blessing, a privilege.
St. Paul was an example of this reality. Of course, he
suffered not only to atone for his past sins that were very serious,
but also for those of others. Once he described his suffering: “Thrice
was I beaten with rods, once I was stoned, thrice I suffered
shipwreck, a night and a day I was in the depth of the sea.” (2 Cor
11,25)
In another instance, he talked about the sting of the
flesh that he suffered to check on his possibility to fall into pride
and vanity. “Lest the greatness of the revelations should exalt me,
there was given me a sting of my flesh, an angel of Satan, to buffet
me. (2 Cor 12,7)
For sure, the saints are saints precisely because they
have taken the same path of suffering that Christ took. Indeed,
suffering can be a clear sign of God’s predilection for us, as it has
been with Christ who suffered the death on the cross in obedience to
his Father’s will.
So, if our predicaments and suffering lead us to a state
of helplessness, whether they are physical, financial, or even moral
due to our sin, we need to adopt the mind of Christ and the saints and
the other characters in the gospel who did all they can to get close
to Christ, asking for help. Christ certain listens and knows what to
do. He knows how to convert evil into good, suffering into glory,
death into life.
We have to have to faith. We should avoid falling into
self-pity, fear, shame, etc. In spite of our helplessness due to our
sin, our being children of God never disappears. God as a father will
always do everything to bring us back to him.
We need to have the trust of little children to their
parents to whom they can show anything, no matter how ugly or
shameful. They know that their parents will always help them, even if
they, the little children, are totally at fault. There might be some
pain involved, but help and relief will always be on the way, and
fast, without wasting time.
All we have to do is to make an act of contrition, and if
need be to go to confession, which is actually very much recommended
especially if grave sins are involved. We should not unduly agonize
ourselves over this matter, going through all sorts of heart-wrenching
dramatics.
God is a father to us all. We are all brothers and
sisters. We may have problems with one another and even with our own
selves, but we will continue to be a family. In fact, the family of an
ever loving and merciful Father!
into some state of helplessness, not only of the transitory type but
also of the permanent one. That’s just being realistic. And upon that
possibility, let’s make the necessary preparation, building up the
appropriate attitude, skills and practices to tackle it.
There’s always hope even in our worst scenario. And that’s
because God never leaves us, but continues to love and care for us, in
spite of all. He gives us everything we need to handle this situation.
We should be quick to realize this truth of our faith, and
act accordingly. Let’s avoid aggravating the situation by avoiding
falling into discouragement and depression, a fertile ground for the
devil to tempt us into worse conditions. The devil obviously wants us
to be alienated as much as possible from God. Rather, like the
prodigal son, let’s return to God asking for mercy which he readily
gives.
God, of course, does not spare us from falling into some
serious, and sometimes insoluble predicaments. That’s because he will
always respect the limitations of our nature that can sometimes lead
us to some trouble, and more so, our own freedom, no matter how much
we misuse and abuse it and lead us to sin, the worst evil.
And even if personally we have not sinned or do not seem
to deserve a particular burden, we all suffer just the same as an
effect of all the sins of men, ours and those of others. We should not
be surprised by this and waste time complaining about it.
In fact, it can happen that those who suffer the most are
the saintly ones who are especially chosen by God to bear the
consequences of the sins of all men. Those who are more Christ-like
will certainly share more in the redemptive suffering of Christ. In a
sense, suffering is a blessing, a privilege.
St. Paul was an example of this reality. Of course, he
suffered not only to atone for his past sins that were very serious,
but also for those of others. Once he described his suffering: “Thrice
was I beaten with rods, once I was stoned, thrice I suffered
shipwreck, a night and a day I was in the depth of the sea.” (2 Cor
11,25)
In another instance, he talked about the sting of the
flesh that he suffered to check on his possibility to fall into pride
and vanity. “Lest the greatness of the revelations should exalt me,
there was given me a sting of my flesh, an angel of Satan, to buffet
me. (2 Cor 12,7)
For sure, the saints are saints precisely because they
have taken the same path of suffering that Christ took. Indeed,
suffering can be a clear sign of God’s predilection for us, as it has
been with Christ who suffered the death on the cross in obedience to
his Father’s will.
So, if our predicaments and suffering lead us to a state
of helplessness, whether they are physical, financial, or even moral
due to our sin, we need to adopt the mind of Christ and the saints and
the other characters in the gospel who did all they can to get close
to Christ, asking for help. Christ certain listens and knows what to
do. He knows how to convert evil into good, suffering into glory,
death into life.
We have to have to faith. We should avoid falling into
self-pity, fear, shame, etc. In spite of our helplessness due to our
sin, our being children of God never disappears. God as a father will
always do everything to bring us back to him.
We need to have the trust of little children to their
parents to whom they can show anything, no matter how ugly or
shameful. They know that their parents will always help them, even if
they, the little children, are totally at fault. There might be some
pain involved, but help and relief will always be on the way, and
fast, without wasting time.
All we have to do is to make an act of contrition, and if
need be to go to confession, which is actually very much recommended
especially if grave sins are involved. We should not unduly agonize
ourselves over this matter, going through all sorts of heart-wrenching
dramatics.
God is a father to us all. We are all brothers and
sisters. We may have problems with one another and even with our own
selves, but we will continue to be a family. In fact, the family of an
ever loving and merciful Father!
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