In responding to our theme "The suffering community", we find inspiration in dwelling upon the way people, in facing suffering, reveal an inner strength, dignity, and gratitude. They leave us an example, won the hard way through their persistence in prayer, holding on to God and in realising He is holding on to them.
I think of Emily. She was a devout and faithful member of her church. Her faith, nourished regularly in prayer and sacrament, was evident in her unfailing loving kindness wherever she went. When she had reached an advanced age she was confined to bed. She was paralysed, she was blind, and her hearing was diminishing.
One might have expected her to be bitter and complaining about the God of Love who had not given her health. Instead she said, without any sign of false piety: "I am lying here thanking God. As you know, I am losing my hearing. I am thanking God that He is allowing it to happen slowly!" She was highly intelligent, and aware of arguments used to dismiss the God of Love because He allowed suffering. In faith she accepted her lot in life. Her non-bitter acceptance developed into that determination to be thankful.
Heeding the advice to count one's blessings one by one and day by day can help us to become thankful people. Long practice of the faith in the saints like Emily develops that supreme trust in God that some might think is incredible. She just knew God loved. She loved (or was "in love" with) God.
In an early book of the Bible - the Book of Job - we have an account of a perfectly innocent man's faith remaining firm in spite of the untold sufferings he endured. Again, a well-nourished and practised faith in God triumphed. Speaking of God, he cries out: "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in Him."
In Isaiah's famous chapter on the suffering servant we have a remarkable prophecy of Christ. He was sinless, and suffered that others might be delivered from their sins and the penalty due to them. The same emphasis on well-nourished faith triumphing over suffering is in the Gospel story of Christ.
The central motive of our religion is found on a Cross, with Christ the Saviour nailed to it in suffering. His message in His own suffering, His death and resurrection, is aimed at developing the spiritual power that gives us the fortitude seen in faithful people like Emily, and in hosts of faithful people. Jesus did not come to explain our suffering. He came, and comes, to enter into it with us. Realising companionship with Him is the key to the way ahead.
As we make our way through all the changing scenes of life, we pray God to protect that priceless gift of companionship with Him. "Increase and multiply upon us thy mercy; that thou, being our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we finally lose not the things eternal."
Jesus speaks to us about the ills of the present world, but always he is saying: "Look beyond ... My kingdom is not of this world."
"In thine own service make us glad and free, And grant us never more to part with thee."
W.W.C.