Meditation for July 3, Suffering and Joy

It is peculiarly significant that yesterday's meditation on the Magnificat follows the meditation for the Feast of the Precious Blood; first the consideration of suffering, then a radiant bursting forth into joy; the day before yesterday - the darkness of night; yesterday - the light of day.

There is in this strange sequence a symbolic representation of our life. Our whole life here below is a mixture of joy and sorrow, a constant passing from one to the other; a succession in mosaic of drab little stones joined to others brightly colored.

Someone once wondered how it was that God did not seem to give him any joys. Patience! Day will follow night! Summer, winter! We must not think that God, on account of a sort of inti­macy with suffering, finds joy only in sorrowing hearts. He has made us for joy, and if it weren't for expiating our sins and the sins of the world, only joy would reign in the world. But because we have only this earth for atonement, and a whole eternity to participate in the everlasting joy prepared for those who love, God permits suffering to hold sway a bit here below. It is true that it tries to increase its dominion as much as possible, but then, can we say we have not helped it along? How could we speak of suffering here on earth were it not that human beings cause it among themselves?

"My God vouchsafe me the grace to understand the role of joy in the world. Let it help me to discover Your Providence and Your immense goodness. Grant that I may also understand the role of suffering here, that I may detest sin the more. In the midst of my suffering, do not forget that I am weak and that it will be a great mercy to accompany it with a drop of joy. However, just as You wish. Alleluia. Amen."

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Adapted from Meditations for Religious
by Father Raoul Plus, S.J. (© 1939, Frederick Pustet Co.)