To the Editor:
In the Feb. 21 issue of the Rhode Island Catholic, the Commentary page included a short article by Father John Catoir entitled “Why does God allow suffering?”
Father Catoir has described some of the most necessary and fundamental approaches needed in order for us to handle the suffering that probably will enter our lives. Faith and trust are, indeed, where we must look to find the strength to accept and go on when disease, emotional agony, or suffering in any of its many forms enters our lives.
In the study of Jesus’ life, we find that Jesus, the Son of God, experienced true suffering — physical and emotional. This every fact should tell us something about suffering that we are reluctant to accept. Jesus sanctified suffering. By his acceptance of it, he gave it meaning — spiritual meaning. But, he also taught us that it is perfectly correct to seek avoidance and/or relief from the suffering. “... may this cup pass from me.” The bottom line, though, was his acceptance of the will of his Father. This is what Father Catoir means when he says that “God is with us as a close friend” throughout the suffering— even a lifetime of suffering.
The Old Testament tells of Job and the sufferings he was forced to endure at Satan’s hand. Read the story again to see whether God condemns the suffering as evil. It is an earthly tool used by Satan to try to turn Job away from his faith and trust in God. Satan was the one testing Job. God sees the suffering as further proof of what he already knows about Job. in the end, God allows Job to rejoice in the knowledge that he has been and will be rewarded for that faith and trust.
Why does God allow suffering? That is a tremendous mystery of our earthly life. But, because of Jesus, we now know that our pain, our agony, our anguish have been blessed by Jesus’ life and death. And, even though we ask that it be removed, if we have faith and trust in our living God, our acceptance of His will guarantees a closer relationship to Him. Our suffering is somehow connected to His. In that knowledge — even in our suffering — we can enjoy the many signs of God’s goodness and love in this life that Father Catoir so correctly expresses.
Ray Hodges
West Greenwich
