One of the basic tasks of the Christian life is understanding that although life can be unfair, God has given us eternal life
Having grown up in North America during the decades of girl-power, materialism, and exaggerated self-esteem, I was encouraged to ‘dream big.’ Not by my humble parents, who stressed holiness over human achievement, but more so by our secular school system and the culture at large.
Even post-Conciliar catechesis played a role, with less emphasis on sin and personal conversion, and greater stress on how special we were, how much God loved us, and our role in building the Kingdom.
This is true, of course: God greatly loves us and calls us to a unique vocation.
But to effect positive change in the world, we must be aware of our lowliness, our weakness, and our constant need for God. Instead, the gospel of self-regard preached that I was wonderful and the world was my oyster.
At university I imbibed just enough feminism and Marxism to believe that the oppressive patriarchs who ran the world owed me a successful and fulfilling life.
Alas, reality comes calling when you graduate with little practical knowledge and fewer marketable skills than your high school chum who went to hairdresser school.
On what had I based my great expectations? Mostly fantasy and delusion (many university faculties and programs could disappear tomorrow, and the world would be a better place).
I soon fell into a career: having married during my last year of university, I worked a short time in radio as a lowly ad-copy writer, became pregnant, indescribably ill, and quit my job to stay home full-time.
Through 25 years of marriage and seven children, there have been ups and downs.
As a naïve young bride, I had numerous expectations, which my husband was supposed to fulfill according to my whims and timetable. (I have since forgiven him for not being omnipotent, and life is much easier for both of us.)
Many Christians have expectations about what their lives should be like, sometimes thanks to well-intentioned books and seminars (“Buy my six-week program for the secret to faith and fulfilment!”).
I know devout people who exist in a near-constant state of disappointment that life has not delivered on their expectations.
They try to do everything right: submit to God’s will; pray and go to church; attend workshops and seminars; read good books — all to no avail. ‘How long, O Lord?’ they lament.
Perhaps we need to hit the re-set button and adjust our expectations to ‘zero.’ Do not misunderstand: we must never abandon the virtue of hope.
We do need to renounce any sense of entitlement or presumption (even unconscious) that certain things are owed to us because we profess faith in God. Nothing is owed to us; rather, we are in debt too great to repay. In the cosmic scheme of things, fallen man is worthless; we deserve condemnation for our sins, many of which are grievous indeed.
The Gospel turns this tragedy entirely on its head. We hear the phrase ‘Good News’ so often it’s almost cliché. But it is so wonderfully good, adjectives fail to describe it.
Jesus’ atoning sacrifice changes everything. God, in his infinite love, has bestowed sonship on those not worthy to be called slaves.
He magnanimously offers us eternal life with him in heaven. Everything else, every gift and blessing, is a bonus, and none of it deserved.
Even in our suffering, a merciful God offers to help us carry our crosses. Do we accept, or do we prefer to wallow alone in our misery? Are we occasionally angry at God (or sad or frustrated) because “life isn’t fair”?
It’s true: life isn’t fair. From the moment sin entered the world, life ceased to be fair, by any definition you’d care to invoke.
What’s most unfair (in terms of strict justice) is that the eternal, sinless Son of the Father should debase himself to become one of us, and then suffer (horribly) and die for our sins. We deserve death. Instead, Jesus gives us eternal life.
As if that’s not enough, he also offers us grace, the sacraments, the very power to defeat sin. This is not another tepid cliché. Repeat it, slowly: we have power to defeat sin.
Life is not fair (‘just’) but it can be fair (‘beautiful’). Our attitudes and actions are the determining factors.
Expect great things; dream big by starting small. Ground Zero is the point of profound gratitude for salvation. Trust God; follow him in every detail, and the entire world will be transformed.