SPRING 2011
In 1994, a gallon of gas cost us around $1.94 per gallon.
It would cost about $25 to fill just about any car being
driven at that time. Today, we are paying about $2.94 a
gallon and our vehicles are costing us about $60 a fill-up. I
remember a time when owning a vehicle was a privilege not
a necessity. Now, we look at 2-3 cars per household and the
saddest thing of all, is that no matter the rise in the cost of
fuel, we have no option but to pay the price at the pump.
We can’t grow it ourselves, nor can we manufacture gasoline
ourselves. We have to go to the pumps to get what we need
to fuel our vehicles.
The same is true with our spiritual life. We must go
to Our Father to fuel our spiritual tanks. We can’t get it
anywhere else. It is through Christ, and Christ alone, that
we find our way to eternal happiness.
During the Lenten Season, more than any other time
during the year, most of us find ourselves reflecting on our
life and how we measure up when it comes to living “Christ-
like” each day. Some of us may find ourselves confident in
knowing that we live as God has so plainly directed – we
follow the Ten Commandments and we use the Beatitudes
as our guide. Others of us may feel “lukewarm” in the
progression of our spiritual lives. We may wonder why
we go through the suffering that many of use face and ask,
“
Why would God want me to go through this?” or “Why
me? I live my life helping others.” While some, have just
given up and have chosen to “let the chips fall where they
may.”
No matter where you are on our spiritual journey, I want
you to know one thing this Lenten Season. God loves you
more than you will ever know and yes, He doesn’t give you
more than you can handle – the cross you bear is especially
made for you.
Let’s look at one area where we all seem to question
“
Why?” in our life. And that is in our suffering. Whether
we are suffering from the loss of a loved one, the loss of our
income, the loss of a marriage or the loss of our health, we
tend to ask ourselves, “Why is this happening? Why does
the Lord want me to suffer like this?”
First, people often think they can escape suffering. They
can’t. Suffering finds us all. Everyone in the world suffers:
rich, poor, healthy, sick, young and old. Even though it may
seem that some people don’t suffer, they do – it may just be
confirmation that suffering is part of the human condition.
That being said, we don’t have to let it control us and we
need to fight the temptation that allows it to control us. In
fact, I venture to say that those who allow their suffering to
control them, are often the ones who suffer the most.
The best way to deal with suffering is to accept it, unite
it with the sufferings of Christ and look for the hidden
treasure – the blessings that will come from it. Because we
know that the Lord divinely chooses our crosses, we know
they will not be too heavy, nor too light. Remembering
this fact helps us to accept our sufferings with praise and
thanksgiving. I’m sure you are saying, “Right Sister Dulce,
but there are many times when it is not so easy to give thanks
for my sufferings.” That statement is very understandable -
but let’s look at it from God’s perspective.
Imagine a father whose child needs a serious surgery.
The father knows that without the surgery, his child’s illness
will only get worse and might even lead to death. He also
knows that the surgery will hurt – with shots, post-operative
pains and so on. Although the father doesn’t want his child
to have to suffer the surgery, he knows it’s the only way for
him to get better. So, of course, he takes his child to the
hospital.
Now, imagine how the father would feel if his child were
to kick and scream all the way to the hospital. Worse yet,
imagine how he’d feel if his child were to curse him, refuse to
believe that the father had his best interest at heart, and act
as if his father only wanted to hurt him. It’s hard enough for
the father to have to see his child suffer, but such behavior
would surely break his heart. So it is with God and us.
God our Father knows we are spiritually sick and that to
get better we need the “surgery” of carrying our cross. It is
hard enough for God to have to see us suffer, but when we
kick and scream under the weight of our crosses and refuse
to believe in God’s goodness and love Him because of them,
it breaks His Heart.
This Lent, let’s commit to spend time with Our Lord
through adoration or meditation and reflect on how we
bear our cross. Understanding God’s love for us, we should
strive to unite our suffering with His and graciously accept
the hardships and crosses that we bear.
Let’s thank God for loving and caring
for us so much that he gives us these
“
surgeries” to ensure our eternal joy with
Him in Heaven.
May God Bless You,
17560
George O’Neal Road • Baton Rouge, LA 70817 • (225) 752-8480
E-mail:
•
The Sister Dulce Foundation, Inc.
Supporting the Cypress Springs Mercedarian Prayer Center
