Where are You, Lord?

This is the cry of a heart of flesh, and an appropriate response to the widespread destruction, deprivations and death in the world. It’s closely related to Jesus’s cry on the cross: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mt. 27:46). It prompts another question: What can we do about all of this suffering?

We’re faced with a heartbreaking answer, one that seems unacceptable: For most of us, there is little we can do. However, it also brings to mind our Holy Mother Mary at the foot of the cross.

During Jesus’s Passion and Death, there was little that she could do. I’m sure that she prayed, she trusted in God, and – the Gospel tell us – she stood by the cross. Anguished as she must have been, she didn’t faint or collapse or scream (in terror, despair or rage). Despite the desolation of losing her only Son, she accepted the apostle John as her child, and in so doing, all of us. I also read a quote by a theologian whose name escapes me now: “She waited, not for the death of her child, but for the salvation of the world.”

To all outward appearances, the current state of the world seems to have no resemblance to the plan of an all-loving, all-wise, all-powerful and all-merciful God. Neither did Jesus’ crucifixion. I propose that we turn to Mother Mary as our model, as well as turning to her for comfort and consolation.

If we’re unable to tangibly assist our brothers and sisters who suffer, let’s at least pray for them. We can turn to Mary as her children and – in addition to asking for her prayers -- ask her to teach us and help us to pray with all our hearts. Besides our rosary, we can pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet, which invokes God’s mercy on the whole world and can help us grow in trust.

Despite grim realities, let’s keep choosing to renew our trust that God -- even though He allows the evil often created by free will -- “works all things together for good” (Romans 8:28). True, we may not see that good in our lifetime, but we can choose to stand in that truth. Challenging? Yes. Again, we can ask Mary to help us stand with her and to stand beside us as we await the salvation of the world.

In this Jubilee Year when we’re called to be Pilgrims of Hope, we can also pray an Act of Hope daily. We can even ask the intercession of Our Lady of Pontmain, also known as Our Lady of Hope.

Mary didn’t stand alone at the cross. Clopas’s wife (who some theologians say was Mary’s sister-in-law) was there, as well as Mary Magdalen and John the Beloved Disciple. We need to stand with others, too. Not only with those who can support us, but with those to whom we can offer support. Mary took us as her children, and we can take others into our hearts, too.

God won’t suddenly transform our state in life to make us world leaders who can effect change, but He has given us people to love, for His sake and for their own. When we show love to our family and friends, they (and we) may think this is natural. Of course, we know that we sometimes go beyond that; when we’re wounded, when someone does something wrong, but we forgive and continue to love despite the pain, that’s going beyond. Depending upon our age, our health and other circumstances, we may have few opportunities to meet people or to work in our local community. But, when we do, we can love each person, seeing them as Jesus in disguise. We can make their concerns our own and do whatever we can to help them.

We’re human, and we will fail. We will fail to trust. We will fail to love. We will fail to forgive. The important thing, though, is to ask forgiveness of God and our neighbor and begin again after every fall. To choose to keep peace in our hearts toward everyone. Only God can save the world, but we can cooperate with Him by loving others as Jesus loved us. Mary, who loved Jesus beyond all telling with her heart of flesh, will help us her children to do that, if only we ask.