When You Must

The Complete Story of Your Life

Imagine you’re transported into the future, and there on a desk is a book—your biography.

Would you open it and read it?

Way back when I was in high school a friend asked me that question.

And I said, Yes, starting at the last page.

I’m older and wiser now.

But my curiosity might still overpower my wisdom.

So I’d probably stick with that answer.

Sometimes it’s not so good to know what’s coming.

As the old phrase goes, Ignorance is bliss.

At least it can be, it can spare us from dreading the pain and sorrow that lies ahead.

And there surely is some pain and sorrow ahead for all of us.

Our Gospel readings over the past few days have dealt with that pain and sorrow.

Sunday we heard Jesus say that he himself must suffer greatly and die.

And that we must take up our cross and follow him.

Again yesterday, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross,

We heard Jesus say that he must be lifted up on the cross.

But he added the Good News—for us—that his suffering was for the salvation of the world.

And so that we might have eternal life.

Jesus saw it coming.

At some point in his life he saw that he was heading for crucifixion.

That fore-knowledge had to add to his suffering.

The dread, the mental anguish, of knowing the terrible physical suffering that lies ahead.

That anguish reached its peak in the Garden of Gethsemane.

When Jesus prayed that, if possible, he might be spared.

But he wasn’t spared.

Today, we see that Jesus’ own mother could not be spared her pain and sorrow.

Or the fore-knowledge that it was coming—someday.

When Jesus was still an infant, she heard Simeon’s prophesy,

That she herself would be pierced with a sword of pain.

And, indeed, she was not spared.

Our Lady of Sorrows had to witness the torture and death of her only son.

If Jesus and Mary couldn’t be spared the pain and sorrow of human life.

Surely we can’t either.

It’s okay to pray to be spared, as Jesus himself did in the Garden.

But at the same time we should ask for strength and grace to bear the suffering if we can’t be spared.

When suffering does strike, with or without forewarning, it can help to know that we’re in good company.

With Jesus and Mary, and all the saints, and everyone else.

And to know that Jesus invites us to make our sufferings fruitful by joining them with his.

And offering them for the salvation of the world and for eternal life.

Tuesday 24th Week Ordinary Time
Our Lady of Sorrows

Lk 2:33-35     Read this Scripture @usccb.org