THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH Her Doctrine and Morals Fourth Sunday after Pentecost 10 July 2011

The Sunday Sermon

Dear Friends,

“The sufferings of the present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory to come that will be revealed in us.” [Today’s Epistle (Rom 8, 18)] 

Too often we become blinded by our present sufferings and forget or lose sight of the glory that will come later. It is difficult not to focus all of our attention upon our sufferings – especially since sin has taken hold of us and blinded us with self-love. Our vision and focus has become very short sighted, and we tend only to look at the present world and the present time rather than into the depths of eternity. 

If we would only shift our gaze to heaven for a short while and contemplate the wonders, power, majesty, glory, etc. of God then we would soon consider the most tragic events in this life as just minor inconveniences in our path to God. A lifetime here on earth of the most bitter pain, suffering, and torment will seem as almost nothing compared to an eternal reward in heaven. 

We are not the only ones who are suffering. St. Paul tells us that all of creation has an eager longing for the sons of God. Since Original Sin, not only mankind but all of creation is in turmoil, and is suffering the consequences of this disorder. As such we see that the other creatures that do not have reason and intelligence are left helpless and must wait patiently for us to restore what was lost to them as well. 

In our sinful self-centered state we only think of mitigating the present pain often at a heavy price to future happiness. We have become like little children who do not understand the concept of delayed gratification. We want it now. We medicate ourselves to eliminate or reduce our present pain only to find complications and side-effects of the medications later. The alcoholic, who drinks to drown out his sorrow, only finds a greater pain in the morning. Such has become the life of the sinner. 

Christ has offered us the suggestion that we not run from our present suffering but rather embrace it as He did. There is much good that can come from patiently enduring this present suffering for the love of God. When we realize that it is a fair and just punishment for sin (if not our own personal sin then at least for the sins of others or even mankind in general) then we find it much easier to bear. Suffering has a purpose. There is meaning to it. It has a reason. 

St Peter in today’s gospel toiled the whole night and caught nothing. He and the others with him labored for a passing temporal thing and still came up empty handed. Even so they were prepared to try again and again the whole night through and were probably even prepared to labor once more the following night; always with the hope that the next time they bring up their nets there will be something profitable for them. The suffering and their labors were made tolerable with the future hope of success. So it is in the spiritual labor for our souls. We must labor and suffer here and now with the hope of future reward. We are not guaranteed future success because we cannot trust ourselves to persevere to the end. We are however promised that if we do take up our daily crosses and patiently and lovingly bear with them we will find peace and rest for our souls. 

When the apostles fished for worldly motives they endured hardships and suffering with little reward, but once they changed their motive or attitude and willingly endured hardships and suffering for God (“Master, the whole night through we have toiled and have taken nothing; but at Thy word I will lower the net.”) then they were rewarded beyond what they could ever have dreamed of. Their nets were filled to the point of breaking.

Now the attitude has changed, they are not as eager for the catch as they were before, now they see a greater pleasure in Jesus and they do not hesitate to leave everything to follow Him. The suffering of this world was willingly endured for physical gain, but for a spiritual gain the apostles are willing to do much more and do not hesitate to leave the material rewards behind. 

Let us consider what we do and suffer for physical gain or pleasure. We cannot escape the toiling and pain justly imposed upon us by our sins, but we can mitigate them by focusing our attention upon the reward given to those who patiently, humbly, and lovingly endure them for the good of our souls and the justice and pleasure of God. We must not curse our pain and suffering but embrace it lovingly because it is the currency of our future glory in heaven, and it is a very small price to pay even if it is the greatest suffering that there ever was upon earth.