Well, it finally happened. I have a friend who is seriously ill with the Coronavirus.
Till now it has been a distant menace that I hoped my friends and family could avoid. The pandemic was a map on TV of “virus hot spots” and growing numbers. “Glad I’m not THERE”, I thought as I looked at the big red circle over New York City.
That was yesterday. Today it’s personal. Ted, I’m praying for you.
So dear friend . . . I’m sure you have your own story developing during these tense days. One of the questions many people are asking is “Where is God?”. And “Why would God let this happen?”.
In fact, it brings up a whole big question about the world and suffering and the “Goodness” of God. Or more simply put . . . “What are you doing God?”
Do you find your faith tested in this way? Perhaps it’s time for us to look a bit deeper into some misconceptions we’ve been living with for years.
Some misconceptions:
- God should behave the way I think he should. After all, I’m a good guy. I know right from wrong, good from bad. Why doesn’t God do what I would do – – take away the bad things in this world (like this virus)? He certainly has the power. Why won’t he use it now to take this away?
- God made us to be “happy”. Everybody wants that in their life. Well, guess what? . . . this is not making me happy. I feel cheated.
- Suffering is bad. There should be no suffering. Fix it God.
- It seems we’ve been left alone to figure this out all by ourselves. Why doesn’t God give us the antidote? Now!
I think we’ve all encouraged these thoughts about how God should act. Our prayers frequently tell him what he should do. (He NEVER listened to my insisting he let the Cleveland Indians win the World Series.)
So what does real Catholic Faith say about these questions and feelings?
Response to misconceptions 1-4 above:
1. This is a big mistake and sends us in a totally wrong direction. WE are not the measure of how things should go. We are “creatures” called into existence by God. Everything we have (our very existence) comes from Him. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways. For as the heavens are higher than the earth so are my ways higher than your ways.” Isaiah 55:8,9. We exist because of his loving will. That will we pray “be done. On Earth, as it is in heaven.” Did God send the virus? No. But God’s “fix” for it is not necessarily what ours would be.
2. Yes, God made us to “know, love and serve Him in this life; and be happy with Him in the next.” Baltimore Catechism. But, this “happiness” (the bible uses “joy” or “glory”) comes in being united with God’s holy will. And what is His holy will? That we image Christ. That’s the happiness the world cannot take away.
3. Yes suffering is bad . . . by itself. Jesus spent his life healing and relieving suffering. But it changes when it is endured for reasons of love. Christ crucified is God’s highest example of this kind of love. “No greater love than this has one that they lay down their life . . .” John 15:13. Share my suffering says Jesus, and you will share my joy.
2. All alone? No we’re not! We have each other. That’s the second part of this creature we are. We belong to each other. God made us that way. That’s why we laugh and cry at the same things. That’s where the miracle of compassion comes from. (Ever choke up seeing a child lost and crying for their mother?) We cry together! We’re all together in this.
Lastly, God made us free. What a wonderful gift. We are free to love (or not), to give (or not), to give thanks (or not). God did not make us puppets. He offers us the joy of working freely with him to bring about His Kingdom.
I hope we can use this time of suffering to open ourselves to the mystery of God’s love for us and His plan for bringing light out of this darkness.
Don’t be afraid.
Fr. Tim
