“Boy, Oh Boy, Oh Boy”

It seems that I’m often being surprised? I like to settle into normal life, even if it’s a new normal …. “okay, things are crazy, but at least there are some things I can count on, so let’s just live our life.” So I live “fat, dumb, and happy” for a short time and then something else happens, and I’m surprised. Oh my gosh, I can’t believe what’s happening in the schools, what they are being taught…. I can’t believe that corporations and businesses that I used to trust are standing for things that only a few years ago everyone knew was crazy. To be honest I dread looking at the news each day.

So, what shall we do…what are the options? “Hmmmmm  I know, let’s put our head in the sand, let’s move to East Bumble on the island of Utopia… or hey what if we get a couple of cases of beer and some White Castle Burgers and sit in the basement while watching John Wayne movies  until things get better.” Yikes, even I don’t think these are great ideas.

Well, St. Peter warned us about these kinds of situations. “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal which comes upon you to prove you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice in so far as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.” (1Peter4:12-13)

St. Peter tells us a couple of important things in this passage. First, “Don’t Be Surprised”…. these situations may be crazy and nuts, but it’s normal that they are happening as we make our way thru the valley of tears…. it’s not strange that these things are happening to you. Secondly , God has a plan for you and me as we endure these trials…. God is proving us… he is  testing us… he’s allowing us to share in his sufferings…. he’s causing us to grow in holiness. This is all good…it’s not fun, but it’s good.

Later in the passage, Peter tells us,”yet if one suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but under that name let him glorify God. For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God….therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will do right and entrust their souls to a faithful Creator”. (1Peter 4:16-19)  

As with all of life, Peter reminds us to entrust our soul to our faithful God, the creator of everything. The Lord has all of this in his hands. We may be surprised, but God is never surprised. What looks like a disaster, God works to the good. He truly is the potter and we are the clay.

In the meantime, let’s do our duty. As St. Benedict reminds us, “Let nothing be preferred to the Work of God”. And remember that Jesus has conquered all our foes ….. sin, death, and Satan will NOT prevail. All our current woes will disappear like the morning mist as the sun rises.

And here’s a final thought……. in heaven the surprises will not end, but they will no longer be “terrible surprises”, they will be “magnificent and glorious surprises”. Each day will be better than the previous one; every “new normal” will be better than the previous one. And that is very good news.