What follows is an overhead or handout used half-way through a unit dealing with unity with God

It summarises where we have been and tackles an important question on suffering which the students were asking.

The theme so far this year has been union with God. This theme presupposes one important question: How can we be one with a God whom we cannot see? Naturally, when we come to try to understand God, we turn to what we know- other people, their stories, as well as ourselves and the created world-its events and struggles. We then make judgments on God based on our interpretation of these events. The question remains however, how can we judge God when we do not even know the rules exactly? What may seem to be a cruel act of God to one, may be an action of Mercy in disguise.

IMPORTANT POINTS

• How do we get to know what a person is really like?
• How then do we get to know God?
• The Creation Video - Sanctuary Of Life (order in creation, snowflakes, design, great works of art are all designed. The designer?)
• Prayer- a conversation with God. Two way. Allowing God to speak to you.
• Suffering - Catacombs, faith blossomed and so did Christians despite the persecutions
• Romero - suffering takes on a whole new meaning. A way to save sinners so that all can go to Heaven; a sharing of Jesus' work. Jesus saved through suffering.
• Paradoxes of Christianity - examples of life through death; butterfly, fire and regeneration, salmon and their offspring etc.
• Theology of the Church: images, suffering servant, salt of the earth etc.
• Fatima - religion is relevant, God exists, He desires our salvation, Hell exists, we are made for Heaven, historical events relate directly to our response to God or to evil. Atheistic conspiracy to destroy belief in God resulting in a destruction of values and families; Satan's way of destroying the "image of God". Sin is the cause of suffering and illness in the world. Fallen world, yet redeemed.
• Absence of grace because of our sin can lead to war (interpreting Fatima statement that God punished the world for its crimes.)
• Role of Church: institution and individuals - to offer our lives to 'redeem' the world
• Question of suffering - the one real stumbling block for some people

We can understand suffering that

• is caused by ourselves - lack of care or too much concern.
• can be offered by willing participants to participate in Christ's saving action in the world
• leads people to build strength of character
• save sinners on their death bed
• is caused by others' and own sin - selfish divorce, child abuse etc.
• cannot be healed as long as we fail to forgive, live certain lifestyles, have bad habits etc.

We also know that

• pain helps us survive- it warns us about things that are harmful

Christians are aware too that

• Jesus wants to heal
• Healing occurs - miracles, Lourdes etc. If this were not God's will why does he still heal?

Scripture attests to Jesus' desire that people be healed. (Many examples)

• However, Christians have also realised that some suffering remains a mystery known only to God and those in close communion with him.

St. Paul also relates to the 'thorn in his flesh" which he had asked to be healed from many times. The Lord answered him

" My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

In another letter, St.Paul writes

" …we even boast of our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope"(Romans 5:3-4)

" Therefore, we are not discouraged; rather, although our outer self is wasting away. Our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this momentary light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison" ( 2 Corinthians 4:16 - 17)

" Carry your cross and follow me"

But the question remains

• why must the innocent suffer at the hands of those who do evil; the innocent who have done nothing?

SOME IDEAS

• firstly, if we are genuinely asking God why he allows this we need to begin thinking from God's point of view. Ultimately, no suffering can take away Heaven from us. Ultimately, despite what we have gone through, our life will seem like a drop in the ocean when we are in Heaven.
• The paradox of the suffering God on a cross.

Whenever we hear ourselves asking about suffering, we need to remember that Jesus(God the Son) suffered and died and through this saved the world from the absolute power of evil.

The intensity of Jesus' sufferings also helps us to think about the reality of death and evil and the fact that the innocent will suffer.

The glory of Jesus' resurrection, on the other hand, reminds us of the glory of the suffering of the innocent over the power of evil and death; that God has purpose, a purpose which we, as humans, do not always see. We are called to walk in the light of faith.

TO REMEMBER, WHEN WE SUFFER

• pray first and foremost- not just to God but to our friends the Saints
• trust in God
• examine what could be causing the suffering in your own lives ( habits, lack of self love, bitterness, sin)
• often we block our own healing
• thank God when he helps you overcome it. ( Try not to wait until you are suffering the next time to talk to him again)
• if it is overcome and you are trying your best not to sin, keep praying and trusting and see in your suffering a chance to spread God's Kingdom through your offerings and witness, and joy in "carrying your cross" with Jesus.