Dear readers, on the occasion of Jubilee of the sick (5-6 April), upon believing n 14/2025 we tell you about a structure that welcomes one of the most shocking sufferings, that of small that live a very serious and sometimes irreversible disease, Through the stories of those who support them in that last trait of life, taking care of it in the body and spirit. It is a reality that “challenges” even those who believe: the theme of “why innocent pain?”in fact, always finds us a little unarmed. If We can “understand” in some way the evil due to natural catastrophes or the “moral” evil – that is, the one caused by man, with his wrong choices -, In the face of the innocent people who suffer the words, they fail. Which lights does faith offer us in this regard?
If we look at the Bible, the suffering appears in many ways (the right persecuted in the psalms, the story of Job, the crucifix …), but we do not find an organic “doctrine” nor an exhaustive response. Suffering remains an open question, Or maybe it becomes an angry “cry” towards God, which still remains a way of being in relation to him even in the “deep of the abyss”.
The Word of God teaches us not to “tame” the pain with easy consoling solutions, if anything to bring him before God. But he also shows us a principle of response precisely in what God has done for us: not a theory, but an event, the sending of the Son who shared our human condition in everything, including suffering and death. Sharing, closeness. A bit like when you are next to a suffering person: not so many words, but presence, empathy, listening, solidarity attitude.
There are beautiful verses of the letter to the Jews who paint this fraternal attitude by Christ “Supreme Merciful Priest” who has “learned” from the suffering suffered (Jews 2,1418; 4,1416; 5,710).
For its part sAn Paolo finds himself answering a question that winds through his faithful in Rome: why do the Christians, who also received the spirit that frees from fear and death, suffer and die like the others? If we are loved children, why are we subject to the adversities of life? The apostle’s response, very dense, finds its culmination towards the end of chapter 8 of the Letter to the Romans: God “is for us”, he is on our side, because “he did not spare his son, but he has delivered him for all of us” And “He will give us everything together with him” (Romans 8,31-32). For the present time we have the “deposit”, the advance, of eternal life and the certainty of his love to support us, also in the midst of adversities (Romans 8,35-37).
I am reminded of the experiences of many sick people who go to Lourdes: often the healing, unexpected, is the inner one, healing from resignation, rebellion, isolation. With hope inside, and with people around who take care, suffering can also be crossed, as the story of two popes, St. John Paul II and Francesco today and Francesco today: not as “heroes” but as confident Christians, certain of a greater love.
(photo above: nostrils/agf)
