Yes indeed with Jesus Christ what appears to be tragedies can be turned into triumphs. What do we need to do to experience grace; healing and growth in the midst of the crosses very often are part and parcel of our lives?
In the first instance we need to face the problems or the crisis head on with all honesty, and sincerity. We cannot keep finding excuses to justify our behaviour that very often have led us to be immersed in very life draining situations. During the visit of Pope Benedict XVI for the World Youth Events, he talked and met with some young people at a Rehabilitation Centre. He was very understanding and very welcoming. At the same time, he put before the young people undergoing this special program a very direct and very reasonable challenge.
He started by saying that everybody wants to live a life full of meaning and happiness. The natural instinct of every human person is to stay alive and to live one’s life as happily as possible. How can we truly achieve this? This is a question that has been asked since time immemorial, Moses said to his people so long ago.” I set before you life or death, blessing or curse. Choose life then so that you and your descendants may live in the love of the Lord your God, obeying his voice, clinging to him – for in this your life consists.” (DT 30:19-20). Moses said this to his people because many were seeking their happiness in ways and avenues that had nothing to do with God.
It is the same story today – very often we find ourselves bombarded with a pattern of living that at first glance seems to be so appealing and so appetizing but in reality it will lead to death. In our own society we are constantly encouraged to have things and to keep on having possessions. We need money to live. It is important to enjoy the fruit of our honest work by living a comfortable life style. Yet in itself, experience tells us that this pursuit of material possessions if acquired dishonestly and if it does not lead us to have a sense of solidarity with those in need will make us so hard hearted and instead of being signs of life we become signs of selfishness and destruction. It is enough to read very often in our newspapers and listen on TV and radio the stories of many who seem to lack nothing materially yet they are charged with fraud, embezzlement, drug trafficking and underworld connections.
Everybody wants to be loved and everybody desires to love and be close to another human being. Love makes life worth living and gives us the necessary encouragement to develop our talents to the full. But how easily can love be abused. Once again it is enough to have a look at what is happening around us. Instead of being a source of blessings, love very often becomes manipulative and possessive Pope Benedict XVI shared this with the young people at the rehabilitation centre. “How easy it is to be deceived by the many voices in our society that advocate a permissive approach to sexuality without regard for modesty, self respect or the moral values that bring quality to human relationships. That is worship a false god. Instead of bringing life, it brings death….. The cult of material possessions, the cult of possessive love and the cult to power often leads people to attempt to “play God”; to try to seize control with no regard for the wisdom or the commandments that God has made known to us. This is the path that leads towards death.”
This is the first step to reflect objectively and seriously about the matter or situation at hand. However, this needs to be accompanied by a decision to act in a totally different manner to the one that has been the cause of so much anxiety, fear and hurt. St Ignatius of Loyola was very adamant about this. Once we realize what is causing us to be in the unhealthy state that we are in, we must make a decision to act against that way of behaving. Pope Benedict made this point very clear during his visit to the Rehabilitation Centre. He encouraged the young people who made a decision to better their life by being part of a rehabilitation program in these words. “I wish to acknowledge your courage in choosing to turn back onto the part of life…. You have accepted help from friends or family, from the staff who run the Alive program; from people who care deeply for your well being and happiness.”
When we follow these two steps, we realize that we can help other people who might be in similar situations. We become powerful and vivid signs of hope to all those who are struggling with the same crosses. Our experience helps others to be able to choose the path of life rather than the path of death. In addition we become more aware of the healing power of Jesus Christ in our lives. The Gospels are full of people who once they realize their mistake become so much more receptive to the healing presence of Jesus. In this manner our crosses literally become moments of salvation and moments of powerful witness to what can be achieved when we let ourselves become more closely in tune with the life-giving presence of Jesus within us. Our weaknesses because of Jesus are turned into strengths able to offer others a way of realizing their dignity and beauty.
“It was those who were willing to rebuild their lives who were most ready to listen to Jesus and become his disciples. You can follow in their footsteps; you too can grow particularly close to Jesus because you have chosen to turn back toward him. You can be sure that, just like the father in the story of the prodigal son, Jesus welcomes you with open arms. He offers you unconditional love – and it is in loving friendship with him that the fullness of life is to be found.” 1 Pope Benedict XVI. (Meeting with Youth at Rehabilitation Centre)
God Bless
