COVID-19: DON'T SUFFER IN VAIN. SUFFER WITH JESUS

This post goes against all that the world teaches and much of what we always believe.

As we enter the second or third or whatever wave of COVID-19, I'd like to share my intellectual perspective on all that we suffer through.  

I say "intellectual" because I firmly believe this, but ... does the word "hypocrite" sound familiar to anyone?

As I journey through Lent I try to daily follow the Way of the Cross in my Latin-English Missal.

The opening prayer includes this important line:

Grant that, while I trace this path of sighs and tears ... I MAY BE READY TO EMBRACE WITH JOY ALL THE SUFFERINGS AND HUMILIATIONS OF THIS LIFE AND PILGRAMAGE.

All the sufferings and humiliations:  

• Being denied access to the sacraments 
• Being denied the company of our loved ones
• Having to suffer with COVID now and maybe for a long time after
• Dying without our loved ones around us, with no familiar funeral arrangements
• Marriage celebrations, etc. being greatly curtailed
• Having to wear uncomfortable masks and having to keep our distance from one another
• Not being able to pop into a store to get any supplies we need or desire

And the list goes on and on.  Whatever a person finds difficult or is truly suffering from, those are things to embrace with joy!

Why should anyone embrace apparent "evils" with joy?

According to our Catholic Faith EVERYTHING comes from God.  There is no such thing as chance or randomness.   Even the hairs of your head have been numbered, as in God knows and creates all things.

Therefore all that happens to us is for our own good and is a part of God's plan for the universe He created.

Whenever we resist pain or suffering we are, in reality, resisting God's love!

From one of my favourite books, now available online, Trustful Surrender to Divine Providence :

1.   GOD CONTROLS ALL EVENTS, WHETHER GOOD OR BAD

Nothing happens in the universe without God willing and allowing it. This statement must he taken absolutely of everything with the exception of sin. 'Nothing occurs by chance in the whole course of our lives' is the unanimous teaching of the Fathers and Doctors of the Church, 'and God intervenes everywhere.'

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    We must have trust in Providence

When I see a Christian grief-stricken at the trials God sends him I say to myself:  Here is a man who is grieved at his own happiness. He is asking God to be delivered from something he ought to be thanking Him for. I am quite sure that nothing more advantageous could happen to him than what causes him so much grief.

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So what do we do as we suffer?

Offer each and every moment up to God and beg Him to join our pains with the Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross.