Turn to Mary and Jesus when suffering

 

I was reflecting on the Agony in the Garden in the Gospel of Matthew and it occurred to me that while we often focus on the divinity of Jesus, sometimes we might overlook his human nature.

While Jesus is 100% divine and 100% human, undivided, it can be helpful for us to reflect on his words just prior to his arrest. They reveal his deep connection with our own experiences of sorrow and grief:

"My soul is sorrowful even to death," he said, as he continued to pray, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will, but as you will."

In "Where is my cure, God?" I wrote about the struggle we have when we do not get the answer we want in prayer, especially in regards to suffering, but today I want to talk about the significance of Jesus being so close to us that he understands personally what we go through.

Having a God who is not distant from us, but who has experienced the great pain, loneliness and suffering that we go through as mortal beings living in this world, should give us hope as we look to the resurrection.

The pain of the cross was surely not easy, but it was fruitful.

On this Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, I am reminded of her front-row seat to everything Jesus went through. The pain that pierced her like a sword must have been almost unbearable for this fully human mother.

But, as I heard at Mass this morning, today is Mary's Easter, as she was assumed body and soul into heaven. 

We can see that God's divine plan included not only Jesus, but his mother as well, when it comes to their understanding our pain and connecting us to them. They have the unique position of helping us navigate the suffering of this world, while looking toward the next, especially since they have first-hand knowledge of the heartache our humanity can bring.

Mary's assumption, as I was reminded today, is what will happen to all of us. Maybe we won't actually be assumed, but our life will (hopefully) end in heaven, in eternal life.

So let us learn from Jesus and Mary and follow their obedience to the Father, and remember that although our grief may be profound today, it is temporary, and love will always be victorious over it.

Pray for peace, joy, and an end to war.

Janet Cassidy
Email me at:  jmctm2@gmail.com

janetcassidy.com
https://www.facebook.com/reflectionsinfaith/
https://www.youtube.com/@janetcassidy 

 

 

  

 

 

Where is my cure, God?

 

I was praying with the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 17, verses 17-20 about the man that knelt down in front of Jesus, begging him to cure his son.

And Jesus cured him. 

This left me asking why God doesn't cure every sickness. If he has the ability to fix things, why do we have to suffer so? Why do we have to endure grief and loss?

None of the reasons I could find seemed sufficient to me. I mean, I don't believe God causes our physical bodies to develop sickness. And I don't think he withholds healing to strengthen our faith because it would be good for us. 

What kind of a father would he be if he sat back and allowed his children to suffer so that he could teach them a lesson? 

Although, I suppose there are times, as a parent, that we have done some version of this, in little ways, so that our children will grow and learn through their mistakes, but that is not the same thing.

So, back to the question. If God has the ability to fix things, why do we have to suffer? Why do some people get a cure and others do not?

The only thing that does help me when I struggle with this question is knowing that we can have only one response to our human struggles, and that one response pleases and glorifies God . . .

We must continue to have faith that he is walking with us through it. God does not leave our side. He provides strength and comfort, if not always healing.

The truth is, I don't know why some people get cured while others do not, but to continue to believe that God is with us in all circumstances, even those we do not understand, is the one thing we can control.

I really don't think our loving Father's plan is the suffering itself. If we look to the cross and the suffering of his son, Jesus, we know that it was the outcome of his suffering that brought new life to all.

Our human suffering can be seen as a pathway to renewed life, and this brings about a very real experience of hope.

Should we believe in miracles? Absolutely, even today.

If you are struggling, here is a link to an online healing retreat I came across.  They do give you an opportunity to donate--or to skip paying altogether.

I have never taken it, so I can't make a personal recommendation, but it looks good. I hope you will check it out.

Here's the link:

https://praymoreretreat.org/2026-healing-retreat/ 

Pray for peace, joy, and an end to war.

Janet Cassidy
Email me at:  jmctm2@gmail.com

janetcassidy.com
https://www.facebook.com/reflectionsinfaith/
https://www.youtube.com/@janetcassidy 

 

A close call

 

Remember when I recently complained about people impatiently driving around me at the end of my road? (*See the link below)

Well we were coming home from a Detroit Tiger's baseball game and a car sped past us on the expressway so close it almost clipped the passenger-side front bumper. I mean it was REALLY close.

Fortunately, he missed us, but unfortunately we had to watch in disbelief as he continued to do the same in the traffic in front of us. He was weaving in and out so fast I couldn't believe he didn't hit someone.

Then a few minutes later a motorcycle came flying by (we're guessing at about 100 mph), doing the same thing!

Reflecting on our close call, I was reminded that before we travel, we always offer a prayer in the car, out loud, asking God to put his holy angels around us and protect us. We started that practice when the kids were young, but we continue it today, even when they are not with us.

We were glad the five guardian angels protecting us that night weren't sleeping on the job!

Anyway, it is quite upsetting to think that if that guy had clipped the corner of our car, he could have easily sent us into the median. Any one, or all of us, could have been injured or died that night.

It's another reminder of how important it is to not wait until tomorrow to get your life in order when it comes to faith. 

Although we may assume it, none of our days are guaranteed.

Today could be the day you meet God. What are you going to say?

Sorry, I was kind of busy? I didn't really believe in you? The hypocrisy of your people turned me off? I don't believe in institutional religion?

I encourage you to drop the excuses and evaluate your relationship with God (or lack thereof), today. 

A great starting place to dive a little deeper into Pascal's Wager and the struggle to believe is to follow this article link:

https://www.catholic.com/magazine/print-edition/understanding-pascals-wager

*Below is a link to the video about Pascal's Wager. (Albeit a simplified, perhaps imperfect, explanation.)

Some day, your time for excuses will run out, and where will that leave you?

Pray for peace, joy, and an end to war.

Janet Cassidy
Email me at:  jmctm2@gmail.com

janetcassidy.com
https://www.facebook.com/reflectionsinfaith/
https://www.youtube.com/@janetcassidy 

*Here is the direct link to a video about Pascal's Wager:

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ZAawc0_aqCw 

**Here is the link to my previous blog:

https://janetcassidy.blogspot.com/2026/07/stop-racing-around-me.html