When “just have faith and pray more” doesn’t work, the mentally ill are shamed and alienated even further. They’re also discouraged from seeking treatment, convinced by their churches that their ailments must have a spiritual solution—which remains elusive. This is the work of Pharisees, about whom Jesus said, “Practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don’t follow their example. For they don’t practice what they teach. They crush people with unbearable religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden” (Mt 23:3-4). This is not the work of Christ, who said, “My yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light” (Mt 11:30). He does not hold himself out of our reach. He does not hide his peace and demand that we always work just a little harder to find it. He comes to us when we aren’t even looking for him, woos us with unconditional love and powers our lives with new strength and supernatural peace each day. He erases the past and gives us hope for the future. He deigns to use us—all riddled with sin and bleeding with shame—in his holy work. He gives us reason to live—the only reason actually worth living for. And all we have to do is come to him like children. May we grant this astounding truth to all suffering people.
Posted on: Sun, 14 Jul 2013 19:55:26 +0000
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