Having now gone to Mass and returned, I am in a better mood.
This morning's reading was very appropriate for the state of annoyance I was in.
| First reading | Wisdom 2:1,12-22 © |
|---|---|
The godless say to themselves, with their misguided reasoning: ‘Our life is short and dreary, nor is there any relief when man’s end comes, nor is anyone known who can give release from Hades. Let us lie in wait for the virtuous man, since he annoys us and opposes our way of life, reproaches us for our breaches of the law and accuses us of playing false to our upbringing. He claims to have knowledge of God, and calls himself a son of the Lord. Before us he stands, a reproof to our way of thinking, the very sight of him weighs our spirits down; his way of life is not like other men’s, the paths he treads are unfamiliar. In his opinion we are counterfeit; he holds aloof from our doings as though from filth; he proclaims the final end of the virtuous as happy and boasts of having God for his father. Let us see if what he says is true, let us observe what kind of end he himself will have. If the virtuous man is God’s son, God will take his part and rescue him from the clutches of his enemies. Let us test him with cruelty and with torture, and thus explore this gentleness of his and put his endurance to the proof. Let us condemn him to a shameful death since he will be looked after – we have his word for it.’ This is the way they reason, but they are misled, their malice makes them blind. They do not know the hidden things of God, they have no hope that holiness will be rewarded, they can see no reward for blameless souls. | |
I was reminded that those who are Godless refuse to recognise the goodness of God. They wilfully reject it and actively seek suffering for those who ARE of God. As it was for Christ so it continues to be. But I have a consolation those who attack do not have. I have the knowledge of who it was who came from God. I have the knowledge that I am a part of the Body of Christ by being a member of the Church. As part of that Body I suffer willingly the attacks and the taunts because I know they cannot take away my faith. And I am comforted by the fact that I can, in my own incredibly small way, unite my own sufferings with those of Christ.
I offer up my own sorrow at being attacked by those who hate my Church as part of my Lenten penance. May I be purified by this sorrow and seek to become better for it.
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