TO CONSOLE!
“Where is God in Suffering?”
I have even heard some say that God causes suffering. How can the good, all-loving God cause suffering? I do not believe that at all. God did not cause my Father, Gentle Ben, to have a devastating series of strokes that left him completely dependent on nursing care. God did not cause my Mother, Rita, to suffer years of Alzheimers disease. God did not cause my bout with kidney cancer, nor a young friend’s need for a double mastectomy. No, God does not cause suffering. Rather, GOD IS WITH US IN SUFFERING.
We say that “Jesus is the Way…Jesus shows us the Way.” In Matthew we hear Jesus speak the Beatitudes. This is the Way to Help One Another Through Suffering. This is the way we follow Jesus. We are invited to be the peacemaker, the merciful one, the justice advocate, etc.
Last week I spent some time at the hospital with a student and her family as her Grandfather was dying. His Baptist Minister brought along a parishioner who visits the sick and prays with the family. With his heartfelt prayer he consoled the family.
Each November a group of justice advocates gather at the School of the Americas to protest the U.S. involvement in training troops from other countries who have a history of oppressing their own people. Two years ago one of our freshman students and a faculty friend were two who were sent to prison for this protest. Justice is a Beatitude stance.
Who do you know who is living the Beatitudes? What Beatitude experience have you had?
The God of Consolation depends on us to bring consolation to those who are troubled in any way. Building a Better World happens with Beatitude People.
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Since its inception in 1997, Online Ministries has been blessed to have myriad members of the Creighton University community offer their personal reflections on the daily scripture readings.
