God Just Wants to Hold You
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Have you ever blamed your sins or the sins of another on your suffering? I have a suffering in my life that even though it can’t be traced back to any sin, I routinely blame myself and/or the sins of my family. God’s punishing me/us, I often think. Can you relate?
That’s what’s happening in the Gospel today, but Jesus puts that thinking to bed, at least in this situation.
We’re often looking for a direct reason to why we are suffering. Perhaps my suffering came from something I did or said. Sometimes that’s true. Our sins sometimes cause suffering.
But it’s harder to reason with sins that stem from how we were born and the sufferings we’ve been innocently carrying throughout our whole life. The sufferings we don’t necessarily know why we are enduring. The sufferings we can’t directly trace back to a sin. Those are the sufferings Jesus is speaking to today.
The message to these sufferings, and the message to us who have them, is that they have a purpose. Their purpose is to reveal God’s greater glory.
It may be that Jesus brings forth a miracle or transformation. It may be that your story and resilience inspires someone profoundly. It may be that your faith through a long suffering nourishes the faith of another. It may be that your suffering brings forth something very fruitful in your life.
Rest assured, in some way, God will bring glory through your story. He did for the blind man. He will for you.
Katie Zalany lives in Cleveland Ohio. She is a Third Order Secular Franciscan (OFS), spiritual director, benefits/wellness leader, certified health and life coach, and volunteer. She is the creator of the ministry Women in Waiting | Made for Fruitfulness and is a published author. Her writing interests and focus areas include Gospel reflections, Franciscan spirituality, women's spirituality, prayer, and integration of faith and daily living.
