Pondering the Deep Questions

Job was not a man to lament, “Why me?” Instead, he seemed to accept, “Why not me?” When I was nursing at Toronto’s cancer hospital, I often accompanied physicians as they gave grim news to our patients. Astonishingly, there were many who responded like Job. They experienced deep grief and mental anguish; they challenged their doctors and their families, certainly, but from deep within, these patients found an inner strength that allowed them to live fully into the reality of the moment with integrity and honesty.

The parable of Job exposes the age-old questions of undeserved suffering. We hear modern-day versions of this story in the evening news: Why do the innocent among us need to suffer? Like Job’s friends, we may each offer an opinion, but it seems there are very few answers.

Job’s story is a story for the Lenten season, a time of deeper reflection and drawing closer to God. Lent is a time for questions, for ponderings. Like Job, we are invited to go deep and see what God has in store for us. Blessings on your Lenten journey.

God of love, grant us the grace of a felt awareness of your presence in our Lenten pilgrimage. May our hearts be open to you. Amen. — MW