That brought to mind our Blessed Mother, who watched her only Son ridiculed, beaten, and nailed to a cross. She then stood by and watched as He died an agonizing death. I encouraged my daughter to seek Mary’s intercession, as she knows only too well what it is to watch a child suffer.
Later, as I was praying in the chapel at church, I was reflecting on the whole idea of suffering and people who have gone through terrible ordeals throughout history. I have been reading about the Battle of Antietam during the Civil War, “the bloodiest day in U.S. history.” In the midst of all that carnage, men on both sides fought bravely, many giving their lives or limbs in the process. How, I wondered, did they do it? How did they move forward, with the roar of bullets and shells and screams all around them? Where did they find the courage to do what they had to do?
The answer, I think, is that they had a goal, something that was worth fighting for and possibly giving up their lives for. For many of these men, they were fighting for their families and for their way of life.
I think the same could be said about the battles we face in our life in Christ. We are able to persevere in times of trouble because we have a goal. We see a “light at the end of the tunnel.” For us, that light is Jesus and eternal salvation with Him.
As the author of Hebrews put it: “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Heb. 12:1-2)
We persevere in our own “races” because we believe that this life is not the end of all things. We trust in the resurrection, and we have hope that our sufferings will not go on forever. We look forward to that “joy that [is] set before [us].”
In my Bible study on salvation history, I just finished reading about the Maccabean revolt during the Seleucid persecution of the Jews in the second century B.C. During the revolt, Judas Maccabeus led a group of faithful Jews against much larger and stronger armies. Before each battle the Jews prayed and fasted, putting their trust in God. Because of that, they fought bravely and were victorious.
Perhaps the most compelling example from this time period is the story of a widow and her seven sons, found in 2 Maccabees 7. During the persecution of Antiochus Epiphanes, this mother was forced to watch as each of her sons was brutally tortured and martyred for his faith.
As her sons prepared to meet their fate, she encouraged them to remain steadfast: “Therefore the Creator of the world, who shaped the beginning of man and devised the origin of all things, will in his mercy give life and breath back to you again, since you now forget yourselves for the sake of his laws.” (2 Macc. 7:23)
In the end, this virtuous woman shared the same fate as her sons, becoming a martyr for her faith. She kept her eyes on the goal and surrendered herself completely to the God who gave her and her sons life, trusting that He would give her sons back to her at the resurrection.
So when we find ourselves facing battles or trials, let us remember, as this widow did, that “this too shall pass.” Let us keep our eyes on the goal. Nothing that we endure in this life can compare with the glory that awaits us if we put our trust in God and allow Him to purify us and transform us into his image.
Sometimes it takes a little child to put things into perspective for us. A young mother and her two little children came into Mass this morning. The little girl, who is about 3 or 4 years old, sat right down in the front row when she came in. The mother thought it would be better to sit back in the corner, where they wouldn’t disturb anyone, but the daughter objected, “But then we won’t be able to see Jesus.” This little child, in her simple faith, reminded me of what we adults, in our busy lives, tend to forget: We need to keep our eyes on Jesus.
Mother Mary, pray for us. Help us to keep our eyes on your Son and to persevere in the midst of adversity. Help us to remember that “this too shall pass,” and help us to trust in God’s love and compassion for us.
