Lessons to Learn from Charlie Gard's Case

Charlie Gard is with God now. He is probably much better off than he would be here on Earth, with all the turmoil he and his parents went through. However, looking forward, there are some important lessons I think we can all learn from this case that was so widely discussed on a global scale.

Several decisions were made to stop the transfer of Charlie Gard to the US for medical treatment. A few things strike me here:

1. Society seems to think it’s in control of life.

Just take a look at all the abortion clinics – some babies are still born alive, but unfortunately left to die, pro-choice demonstrators who think they are in control and everything should be at their own convenience, and people who thought they could override court rulings to transfer Charlie Gard to the US, and how no matter how hard they tried, it didn’t work.

2. The innocent will suffer and even die because of the evil in this world.

There are many persecuted for their faith, for their beliefs, for standing strong in what they thought was the right thing to do. They have suffered, just as the martyrs have suffered. Even more so, JESUS died for us to save us from ourselves, from our sin, from all the evil that has entered this world through original sin. If Jesus, the Son of God, can suffer, then why wouldn’t the innocent suffer to save the guilty, too?

3. No matter how hard we try, we are not the ones in control. God is the one in control, and He has the ultimate plan for humanity.

The danger with this is, that some might argue, “if we have such a loving and merciful God, then why would He allow an innocent child like Charlie Gard to die and suffer in such a way?”. Think of the martyrs. It is by their blood spilt that we are saved, that there is hope for humanity, that we realise our dependence on God. This is not a case of evil winning over good, but of realising, in humility, our complete and entire dependence on God. Perhaps this is God showing us that He is in control and our total dependence on him will be the only thing that will get us through this life to the next in eternity with Him. Society likes to preach control – we’re often taught to be independent and that we can do whatever we want so long as it isn’t against the law, but in the end, so many dreams are shattered when we realise our human limitations. Even medicine has its limitations. So, perhaps we should all take this as a lesson learned, that we need to trust and rely on God totally, and submit to His will, because, “we do not know the day or hour the Lord will come” (Mt 24:36), and so we have to keep watch and stay awake, attentive to the Lord’s calling (Mt 24:42).

So, as little Charlie Gard rests in the peace of Christ, let us pray for the repose of his soul, and that God may comfort his parents and all affected by his life and death also. May God grant them peace.

Let us also learn that we cannot always be in control, and that we may not understand why God allows the innocent to suffer, that we may still trust that He knows the greater plan for humanity, and thus submit to His will, and learn total dependence on God.

Let us learn humility, recognising our weaknesses as humans, and also our limitations, that even as we advance in science, there remain things still unexplainable by nature and science, since they can only come from God.

Thus, we entrust all these intentions to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. In Jesus name, we pray. Amen.