Closely tied to learning hope though action is learning it through suffering, reflects Pope Benedict in the next paragraph of Spe Salvi. Suffering is an inevitable part of our human condition, and if we are certain to face it, we can trust that God desires to teach us some important lessons from our experience of enduring suffering. It is this topic which will occupy our reflections for the next few weeks.
The Holy Father comments on how it is important for us as Christians to engage in actions directed toward reducing suffering in the world:
Certainly we must do whatever we can to reduce suffering: to avoid as far as possible the suffering of the innocent; to soothe pain; to give assistance in overcoming mental suffering. These are obligations both in justice and in love, and they are included among the fundamental requirements of the Christian life and every truly human life. (SS 36)
Though we do all that we can to reduce suffering around us, the pope reminds us that eliminating it altogether is something that is outside of our power:
This is simply because we are unable to shake off our finitude and because none of us is capable of eliminating the power of evil, of sin which, as we plainly see, is a constant source of suffering. Only God is able to do this: only a God who personally enters history by making himself man and suffering within history. (ibid.)
With the Incarnation, the seemingly hopeless situation of suffering has a new light to shine on it, giving new hope that there is an answer to the problem of suffering. But the Holy Father cautions us that this is hope, not yet fulfillment. The very presence of this hope, however dim it may seem at times, gives us the courage to persevere in doing good and trusting that the Lord continues to work toward bringing fulfillment to that hope in the fulness of time.
With the growth of various forms of social media over the past several decades, the world has become more aware of the various forms of suffering that exist in the world around us. It can be incredibly disheartening to see these things, and not a few people have questioned their faith in God, wondering: “How can a good and loving God permit such atrocities?” In fact, many have come to the conclusion that since suffering only seems to increase, the only logical explanation is that God must not be real, or that He simply does not care.
Instead of turning away from God in the face of the mystery of suffering, our faith invites us to turn toward God, knowing that even if a “reason” is not provided, the only satisfactory (and true) answer is to be found by turning to God. As Pope St. John Paul II wrote so beautifully in his document on suffering:
Love is also the fullest source of the answer to the question of the meaning of suffering. This answer has been given by God to man in the Cross of Jesus Christ. (Salvifici Doloris, 13)
This is one of the reasons why I find it helpful to have a crucifix nearby at all times, so that when we feel the weight of suffering, personally or in humanity, we can look to that image with faith and “see” the answer, even as we struggle to understand the mystery.