question god
"They failed, however, to understand this warning; its meaning was so concealed from them they did not grasp it at all, and they were afraid to question Him about the matter." —Luke 9:45
We often question God concerning disappointments, sufferings, and failures. We ask: "Why me?", "How long?", "What's wrong?", "What can I do?" Yet we are afraid to ask the Lord other questions. He wants us to ask Him about our daily cross (Lk 9:23), not to get out of it but into it. Jesus calls us to ask how we can die to self to bear fruit for His kingdom (Lk 9:24). He motivates us to pray that we may know how to suffer redemptively in "the pattern of His death" (Phil 3:10).
The great saints often questioned God about getting into suffering and finding their joy in it (Col 1:24). Do we grasp the cross at all? (Lk 9:45) Are we afraid to question Jesus about this matter? (Lk 9:45) If we ask the hard question, we'll get a miraculous answer. We'll boast with St. Paul on "the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Gal 6:14). We'll pray with St. Francis: "We adore You, O Christ, and we praise You because by Your holy cross You have redeemed the world."
Prayer: "Jesus, keep me near the cross. There's a precious fountain."
Promise: "Many nations shall join themselves to the Lord on that day." —Zec 2:15
Praise: St. Lawrence Ruiz and his companions joyfully suffered rather than deny their King. They died in Okinawa from unspeakable tortures because they would not renounce their faith.
Reference: (For a related teaching on Redemptive Suffering, order, listen to, or download our CD 75-1 or DVD 75 on our website.)
Rescript: †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, February 15, 2019
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