Timelytidbits’s Weblog

This weekend, throughout all the Catholic Churches of the world, the Gospel that will be proclaimed is the reading of the passion of Christ.  And throughout this coming week ,even the most unreligious people will be tempted to watch religious programming, specifically the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus (for some unknown reason) attend religious services and possibly even bend their head in sincere prayer.  I know the reason.  Because we need to be reminded that we have not been forsaken.  We need to know there is a purpose and a plan to this life we live. Life can be very difficult.  Cancer.  Loss of job.  Divorce.  Death.  The ugliness of life touches us even though we struggle to safeguard ourselves against it.  When we least expect it – there is that knock on the door.  We try to cope but sometimes it’s so hard.  What to do?  What to think?  Who can we turn to?  Why does God not answer my prayers!  All of us at some time or the other have uttered the words Christ spoke to his Father as he hung from the cross:  “My God, my God; why have you forsaken me?!”  Why have you abandoned me God?  Where are you God when I need you?  And then we give in to the silence, and are almost consumed by it. 

The difference between our struggles to experience God in these moments, and Jesus’ struggle is that God has never left us, even for a moment.  Just because we don’t think we hear God doesn’t mean God isn’t speaking.  Just because we don’t see God doesn’t mean God isn’t there.  Jesus took upon his shoulders the pain of all humanity so that we wouldn’t have to.  Jesus experienced the abandonment we talk about so that we wouldn’t have to.  Jesus hung on the cross of death so that we might share in His resurrection.  Something to think about.  Until next time, I remain, your servant in Christ,

Theresa