Mark Shea, Words of Encouragement

Chosen in Suffering!

August 11th, 2008 by Mark Shea Print This Article Print This Article ·

Jeremiah 29:1

These are the words of the letter which Jeremiah the prophet sent  from Jerusalem to the elders of the exiles, and to the priests, the  prophets, and all the people, whom Nebuchadnezzar had taken into exile  from Jerusalem to Babylon.

It must have seemed to the exiles in Babylon that they had been picked out by God for special rejection and judgment.  Out of all their countrymen, they were the ones who got carted off to a foreign land where they would die and see their children raised among pagan conquerors.  Sometimes in our lives as well come moments when we are pretty sure God has not only given up on us but slammed the door on our face in disgust as well.  We can get to feeling so low that we assume God simply never wants to speak to us again.  And yet, we find that it is not so, just as the exiles in Babylon did.  For God did not abandon them. Rather he selected them for his special care and prophetic encouragement.  It was to the dejected in Babylon, to the prisoners and exiles in the thrall of a great prince, that God specially sent word through one of his inspired prophets.  Just where they expected rejection, God gave them his special oracles instead. In the same way, God sends his incarnate word, Jesus, to those who struggle with the chains of sin, grief, anger, addiction, despair, and death placed upon them by the prince of this world.  Where we fear his judgment, he bestows his mercy. If you are feeling down, look up to Jesus hanging on the cross.  There can be no pit you are in that he has not been in himself.  There is no anguish he has not known personally.  There is no death he cannot raise up to glory.

Mark Shea is Senior Content Editor for Catholic Exchange and a weekly columnist for the National Catholic Register. You may visit his website at www.mark-shea.com check out his blog, Catholic and Enjoying It!, or purchase his books and tapes here.

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  • Warren Jewell

    Yo, fellow Catholic Christians –

    Since our Creator sent His Own One Son to be our Savior – from Suffering Servant to sacrificial Lamb of God – our suffering has most obvious purpose and marks how glorious being Home with God will be. He didn’t exhort and call us to ‘Follow Me!’ into Paradise until each of us experiences Golgotha, too. He tests each of us most in His love, not His abandonment.

    When I am face-to-face with my Father, He will show how my glory with Him was won in facing and completing His tests. Yes, He calls me to be a martyr – HIS witness – by the day; and in suffering from diabetes difficulties and multiple heart problems to failing legs, from being too ‘peculiar’ to belong to this world to my lonely solitude. But, as I carry my cross on old legs, it is verily my Savior Who puts His shoulder to help me. And, I look to the Crucifix with that dual gratitude – I follow, and He is the my Guide and Support.

    Pray not to be put to the test (‘Lead us not into temptation’) but, suffering His test, accept it as God’s will when it arrives, that His glory for you be golden.

  • Warren Jewell

    Oh, and do remember that the poor exiled Israelites had not yet had their Messiah appear to make their suffering its obvious gift for glory. Accept, too, that you have that advantage – that Crucifix – that Jesus, our Christ – His Church – His Sacraments – His Popes, bishops and pastors – even His plainly clear share for each of us in His suffering – His all from His all.