THE WHOLE CREATION GROANETH

 A REFLECTION FOR THE 4TH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

Despite St. Paul’s outwardly pessimistic declarations in today’s Epistle to the Romans, his words do nevertheless convey a message of hope.  No matter how much the whole of creation, including ourselves, may groan and travail in pain, it will be worth it in the end.  And certainly there is a great deal to groan about, from the situation in the Church to the travesties of justice that have infected our own beloved nation, from pandemics and dangerous vaccines to broken families and the apparent destruction of all stability and common sense, we are unquestionably within our rights to do a bit of groaning these days.

 

But if we pause in our pain for just a moment to reflect on the ultimate destiny of our souls and bodies, we will perhaps regain that sense of peace that is the reward of the righteous.  For the sufferings we endure are transitory and short-lived compared to the eternal prize that comes to those who patiently wait.  Yes, “even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.”

 

The trick, of course, is in the waiting.  There are those who are indeed patient, silently enduring all hardship, every temptation, as they set their sights on this redemption that is their primary goal.  But then there are so many more who get tired of waiting, tired of the constant struggle against the combined forces of the devil, the world and their own fallen nature.  We know who they are, we watch them wallow in the slime of wickedness, doing everything they can to satisfy their every whim, no matter whom they hurt in the process, no matter what the cost to their own soul.

 

Can we help them?  Usually, the problem is that they don’t want our help.  They are so busy having a good time that they feel no need whatever to be told that they should stop and devote their energies to less self-centered pursuits.  You just have to think of our own grown-up children who no longer feel the need to go to confession or Sunday Mass.  We make excuses for people, we come up with mitigating circumstances that drive them to their bad behavior, but the bottom line is that we give up on them.  Sure, we may groan inwardly at their lack of faith and fervor, but we have already handed them over to the devil who eagerly awaits the gift of another lost soul.

 

The truth is, we’re tired of trying to persuade, trying to cajole and entice people to do their Catholic duty.  “We have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing.”  But let’s not forget that we are fishers of men, and the instruction of our Lord must be ever before us, to launch out into the deep and let down our nets yet again.  We must persevere in our efforts to help him save these lost souls, for if we give up on them, what should we expect from our own eternal judge?