Limitations

I was thinking today of my mother, and how much she suffered from the effects of arthritis, vertigo, and other symptoms of old age.  Throughout it all, she made it her mission to pray for everyone and everything under the sun, including me and my family!  In light of all the praying she did, there were times it was hard for me to make sense of Mom’s suffering. 

St. Paul speaks so well of the mystery of human suffering (2 Corinthians 4:7-15).  “We hold this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us.”  In other words, by God's grace, we carry in our own bodies the sufferings of Christ.  It’s a difficult concept, especially in the face of the apparent senselessness of catastrophic illness or injury.

This image speaks about our limitations, something we don’t like to think about very often today.  Paul reminds us that it’s actually through our human frailties that God’s presence and potential can be recognized.   When I’m at the ‘top of my game’, feeling great and full of energy, I can easily become convinced of my own power and gifts, and perhaps forget to step back to recognize that it’s the gifts of God’s spirit within me, through me and, at times, in spite of myself that allows others to truly know God’s presence in our world.

All the good that we do is only possible because of Christ. And as we sometimes find out, we have the ability to become quite sour when life doesn’t go our way. So, as we read about them being “afflicted in every way, but not constrained” or “perplexed but not driven to despair”, we should be strengthened in our walk.  It’s a reminder for me just how much I need Jesus to help me in and throughout each day. 

What can we say to those who are suffering?  “Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing ….” (Psalm 126)

Holy Scripture tells us that in response to human suffering, Christ sighed, groaned, and wept.  So in imitation of Christ we can be present to others who are suffering, not by trying to construct for them the whole of salvation history in the Word becoming Flesh, but by what’s most effective, by having the living Christ animate our flesh that we might be Christ for others.

Bishop Fulton Sheen in one of his presentations encouraged the audience to remember that no one remained dead in Christ's presence, not the daughter of Jairus (Matthew 9:18-26), not the widow of Naim's son (Luke 7:11-17), not Lazarus (John 11:1-45).

So, too, will it be for others who, by God's grace and their cooperation with His grace, recognize their suffering as a means of salvation for themselves and others.

“…‘Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many..’…” (Mathew 20: 20-28)

Even though he’s my patron saint through Confirmation, St. James is one of the apostles about whom we know little.  James and his brother, John (the Evangelist) were both called to become Apostles while they were mending their fishing nets with their father.  They joined Jesus and Peter and his brother Andrew, who had been invited earlier.  James is also the first Apostle to be martyred, and it was by the sword.  He witnessed the Transfiguration of Jesus on the mountain.  He was special to Jesus; He referred to James as being one of the sons of thunder, possibly for his temper, so it might be a good idea to call on him today to help us strengthen our Faith, to fire it up! 

We get only a glimpse of the mother of James and John in Matthew’s gospel.  Interestingly enough, St. Matthew doesn’t even tell us her name.  Even in this one brief appearance this nameless woman caught my attention when I read this gospel passage.  I think there’s something very human and attractive about her.  She reminds me somewhat of my own mother; she only wanted the best for her sons. 

This mother made a very bold request, but she made it in a most proper manner.  She didn’t make the request behind the backs of her sons, but rather in their presence and presumably with their consent.  Before making her request she did homage to Jesus, showing that she respected Him as a great teacher and a good leader for her sons.   She had the deference to wait until Jesus asked what her wish was before stating it.  Then she simply departed the scene and the gospel story.  This one brief scene is all that we know of her.  The remaining dialogue in this scene is between Jesus and the brothers.  We never hear of their mother again.  Although her life presumably continued, she vanished from the gospel story as quickly and completely as she came into it.  Her brief appearance in the life of Jesus is similar to that of a number of others; people such as Simon of Cyrene (Matthew 27:32), Zaccheus (Luke 19:1-10), and the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:1-42).  We’re left with a beautiful picture of a woman whose name we don’t know and who only wanted what was best for her two sons.

I pray that I can also learn to be ‘ok’ with my human limitations, but also know that the talents, gifts and presence that are God’s presence in me will be life giving to all if I continue to remember to live for and with others.