My friends, it is very hard to hold unto faith when life events conspire to bring us down to the dust. The first reading on this fifth Sunday in Ordinary times, Year B (Job 7:1-7), introduces a man named Job, a righteous and upright man who, upon hearing that all of his possessions had been destroyed and his children killed, said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised” (Job 1:21). But these words of great faith quickly evaporated when his sufferings intensified with his body afflicted with such terrible sores that he couldn’t stand, sit, or lie down, nor find relief from his pain. His wife suggested that he end his misery by cursing God and his friends condemned rather than console him. Even God, whom he had served so faithfully, seemed to have ignored him, refusing for a long time to answer him and rise to his cause. Consequently, “I prefer strangling and death, rather than this body of mine… Let me alone; my days have no meaning…I will never see happiness again” (Job 7:15, 16b) became his words. A pillar of faith had been brought down to despair and feelings of hopelessness. Indeed, faith can get a workout in the face of life's tribulations.
This is why St. Paul warned in 1 Corinthians 10:12, “If you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” When life tribulations pound us again and again, it is hard to stand firm and the feelings of helplessness can easily set in. The feeling of helplessness is different from the feeling of hopelessness. Helplessness is a feeling that things have gone awfully wrong without any light at the end of the tunnel in sight. Yet, in the midst of this feeling, there is a belief in the barest possibility that the dust will settle; a sustaining hope that allows one to keep going just in case. On the other hand, hopelessness is the feeling that things have gone awfully wrong and there is no need to keep going. There is no room for faith or hope. It is a determined desire to give up and not give life a chance. This leads to all kinds of negative outcomes, including desperation and suicide. Job’s situation led him to feelings of helplessness but not hopelessness. That is why hung despite all odds, and eventually saw the restoration of all his fortunes. Hope occupies the space between the feelings of helplessness and hopelessness.
When we are faced with desperate situations, let us remember the words of Scripture: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and... you will not be swept over. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior” No matter how helpless things look, remember these words of Scripture: “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to the human race. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it”.
My friends no matter what we are going through, there is always the barest possibility that we may come through to the other side of our desire. Our blessings often lie on the other side of our pain. May the Lord never allow us to be tempted beyond what we can handle!
Comments