What lengths do we go to as humans to stop suffering?
Now, that may seem like a silly question at first blush, because it could imply that we should just sit around and watch people suffer or do nothing to help ourselves.
Many people forget that the Christian life—any life really—entails suffering. Christ told us to “pick up our cross and follow” Him.
So, suffering is a part of life whether we want it to be or not.
The thing with suffering is that we must always try to alleviate it by good and right ways.
Prayer
Giving of ourselves to others
Uniting it to Christ’s suffering
Corporal and spiritual works of mercy
So often though, we try to alleviate suffering through bad and wrong ways.
Distractions
Drugs/alcohol
Pornography
Toleration of sin
Job’s wife, seeing him suffering from severe boils, tells him to “Curse God and die!” Job 2:9
She is literally telling him that in order to relieve his suffering he should blaspheme the Lord which will bring upon death. Basically, she wants him to just get it over with and she isn’t thinking at all about the fact that she’s asking Job to mortally sin. There’s no concern for his soul, only his body.
What hideous advice and, thankfully, Job calls her foolish.
We must always seek to alleviate suffering for ourselves and others through ways that are good, right, and just, Catholic Pilgrims. Anything else will only cause more suffering.
Live the Faith boldly and travel well this Thursday.
