Friday of Advent III

Lessons: Psalm 40, 54; Isaiah 10:5-19; 2 Peter 2:17-22; Matthew 11:2-15

A Hidden Mystery in Suffering

While cleaning out my office a couple of weeks ago, I came across a collection of books written by Henri Nouwen that I have had in my library since well before my seminary days in New York. Placing many of them in a box headed for my home office, I paused and flipped through a couple of volumes coming across this quote: “All suffering has a hidden quality, a quality of strangeness. Our temptation is to look at suffering as big, spectacular, noisy, and very imposing. But, in the center of all the hunger, homelessness, violence, torture, war, there is a hidden anguish, a silent agony, and invisible loneliness, that nobody wants to touch. Jesus touched it, lived it. And carried it into the grave where he lifted it up to new life.” (Henri Nouwen, The Road to Peace: Writings on Peace and Justice)

Since last week’s shootings in Connecticut, which focused once again our Nation’s attention to violence and suffering, I have been pondering if we really know what we are doing when we, as a Nation and as individuals, respond to such a horrific event. Everybody wants to help; and there is nothing wrong with that. But in the seduction of wanting to provide relief and assistance, be a problem solver, there is always the chance of adding violence to violence.

Case in point, this morning at 9:30 am, there were church bells rung around the country in memory of those who were killed in Newtown. Twenty-six bells were tolled for each one of the children and their teachers. The media added to the emotional “pull” by showing a picture of each one of the victims. But weren’t there 28 persons who lost their lives last week? A mother was shot to death while sleeping in her bed. A young man, who clearly was struggling with life, and having destroyed the lives of many, took his own. Where were the bells for them? Where were their pictures?

If we are going to heal from these tragic events which seem to plague our culture, then we must embrace what Nouwen called that “hidden anguish”, that “silent agony”, that “invisible loneliness that nobody wants to touch.” Our Lord entered into those vulnerable places and showed us by his actions that pain and suffering can be transformed, that healing is possible, that new life can come out of death. The only way to accomplish such a tremendous witness is to enter fully into the moment and deal directly with that “hidden” quality. That was the example of our Lord played out time and time again in the Gospel stories. It must be our example as well.

Be with me, Lord, in every moment of this day and in every place so that I may recognize and respond to your call to go to the broken, the lonely and the needy proclaiming the Kingdom of God. AMEN.

Advent Action Step: Today is the shortest day of the year. Reflect on how Jesus Christ is the Light of the world.

Love One Another – Brian