Why?

 Living in 2022 is no easy task, and I won't go further into the troubles of our times, because you already know them. But living as a Catholic in 2022 seems to be even more difficult. Living as someone who believes in God, believes that we will rise again, believes that bread is the Body of Christ, believing in life and believing in a God centered world is a lot to ask for in 2022, especially when society, friends, family and social media consistently supply us with a humanistically pagan, pleasure-seeking teleology to our existence. 

If you haven't seen or read part 1 or part 2 of this series, I would recommend catching up on them before we conclude with this piece today. 

One question remains why believe? What is the point of believing if in believing we aren't going to get it an easier and it might actually be more difficult for us, especially if we are in high school or in a place constantly surrounded by a small number of people that we desire to fit in with? 

Well, we already know the promise of the resurrection. That despite whatever challenge we go through, despite whatever tough challenge, hurt feelings, separation we experience, we know that these are never the end. We are confident in the resurrection of Christ in which death has been and is defeated and that life, goodness and unity will always win. There is something important, though, in the death of Christ, which isn't too often talked about. We talk about how great and awesome it is for Jesus to have died to destroy death and rise again. We often forget, however, that he was fully human. That the creator of the world had left behind his divine glories and experienced all that we experience. He died the shameful death and he still beat it.  In his humanity, he suffered like we suffer. In his divinity he destroyed that suffering. 

What we ought not forget, is that Jesus, the human being, suffered. And he suffers with us when we suffer too. 

We have a God who not only knows our sufferings and pains, but experiences them with us. We aren't alone. We aren't abandoned by the creator. We aren't left to try and search constantly for a better brighter day or pleasurable feelings or more stuff. No. We have with us a God who experiences our sufferings with us, who knows our sufferings, and who has defeated our sufferings.  In turning to him then, we turn to a companion, to a comforter, to the one who can help us through it because he has experienced it too. 

The crosses we carry, the harsh sun and heavy rains that trample our faith and our life, are worth going through, they are worth experiencing because it is through those experiences that we grow in sanctity. It is going through the crosses and the divisions that we can become better people, focused on other people. Jesus came to earth because the world has become to selfish, and we all are selfish at the end of the day. But Jesus came to help us realize the heart of a life with God- it is a life lived for and with other people. We are not alone, and nor should we be, (despite how we might feel some days!) because it is in other people that we find meaning, find God, find enjoyment and that we find ourselves. 

I think this leads us to the ultimate reason for bearing the crosses, and often the cross of believing in God with God, is that God supplies. I have mentioned it in both prior posts, but I want to clarify it here. God always supplies and supplies abundantly. When life is lived with God, you begin to see everything clearly and correctly. You begin to see that coincidences do not exist, and that in his timing- a good timing- God provides what we truly need!  It means that, for example, you might not fit in with this crowd of people, but God will provide you with new people that will accept you and support you even in your faith. Be open to the fruitfulness that God wants to offer, not the momentary pleasurable temptation society offers. 

It's tough to explain how when we live our life with God, things begin to make more sense. When we turn to God with every moment of our life, the good, the bad, and the ugly, we realize that God is a God who freely supplies. That our God is one who wants us to thrive, to live, and live our best saintly life. 

God is a God who supplies us with what we need. He doesn't make the road easier, but what is taken away is always a thing of death- it is always and necessarily something that makes our souls sick. The things, people, events God supplies and help us with, the path of God, is always one of healing, of newness and of life. 

So when we live our life boldly and profoundly of faith, we may loose in our immediate popularity and surrounding friends. But those people may have made us spiritually, and emotionally sick. God will provide. God always provides. In him, we trust and work through our lives. With him we are taken care of. 

Part four of the series will be a highlight of the trust in God, even when he is silent, and even when it is the most unpopular thing to do. But when God supplies, it is always life giving. It is always in abundance than what we ask or dare to even dream of! 

Mike