Oblates of St. Francis de Sales

New DeSales World Newsletter - Summer Edition

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time (February 9, 2003)

Suggested Emphasis

Lord, how could you...?

Salesian Perspective

February is a difficult month. We are between festive seasons. Flu season has begun; the "Febs" afflict us. Today, the Church presents us with the Book of Job as a beacon of light that leads us toward the Light of the World in a gloom that often arrives at this time of year.

Job is part of "Wisdom Literature." It is a story the human author weaves about a man from the land of Uz (who apparently never actually existed) but will always enlighten us as a stepping stone into the mystery of the innocent who suffer and the place of possessions in our lives. The Book of Job raises the question: Why does God allow evil to exist in the world? Rabbi Harold Kushner used

Job's plight for his classic book When Bad Things Happen to Good People.

God leads Job toward an attitude of humility. God does not have to justify to Job or to us either his actions or his non-interventions. God is mystery; we cannot comprehend all the whys and wherefores of God. Job ceased questioning when he came face to face with God's immensity and turned instead to simple faith and trust. Job finally said: "I am of little account; what can I answer you? I put my hand over my mouth." Wisdom! God contents Job with his power and mystery.

In 2003 we are blessed with more than Job's story, more than what Rabbi Kushner can provide from his Jewish faith-insights. We recognize Jesus as our Savior. Jesus does not give a final answer to Job's questions, but does reveal deeper truth to us. He corrects a faulty perception of gifts. St. Francis de Sales sheds the additional spiritual insight in asking "What goods have we which we have not received, and if we have received it, why should we take pride in it?" (Introduction III, 5)

Jesus also broadens our understanding of suffering.

• Job thought that the world's goods were the indication of God's favor; their absence, a sign of God's disfavor. Jesus advances this understanding. His father allows rain to fall on the good and the bad. "Bad things" are not punishment for what we have done.
• Jesus did not heal everyone who was sick or raise every dead person to life. All our requests will not be answered as we might wish. We see Jesus' undeserved suffering; we hear: "Let it be done to me according to your word." If Jesus recognizes and accepts suffering even after agonizing prayer to his Father asking him to take the cup away - how can we expect that all our requests will be answered as we might like? His plan is beyond us. Jesus tells us: "I will be with you all days. . ." He will be with us in the midst of our trials and pain. He promises to send his Spirit, the Consoler.

Our anxious moments can be alleviated by a deeper awareness of God's power, loving presence, and wisdom in our effort to Live Jesus with an interior humility.

Who of us has not gone through pain and in hindsight not seen personal growth? We, like Job, and later, Jesus, can weather the storms of suffering. We are transformed into a more faith-filled, trusting, and humble person in our relationship with our Father.

Rev. William J. Dougherty, OSFS, is Regional Director of the De Sales Spirituality Center
in the Diocese of Wilmington and is also a retreat presenter.