Latterly, news of untimely deaths has been in our thoughts and prayers. The untimely deaths of three persons in the prime of life through an aeroplane accident was devastating. The untimely death of a magnificent officer of the Garda Siochana leaves us speechless, as does the massacre of innocent people in Yugoslavia.
The list of persons suffering or dying through no fault of their own is endless. Recently, on July 25th, the church remembered the Apostle St James. He and his brother John were sons of Zebedee, and leading members of the disciples of Our Lord. He, with Peter and John, was of the inner circle around the Lord. At His Transfiguration Jesus took them with Him when He went up into a mountain to pray.
It is not possible for us mortals to understand why St James, one so close to his Lord and one trained and taught by the Master, should have met an untimely death at a time when one with his gifts and experience was needed by the young church. King Herod wished to gain favour with the Jews. He laid violent hands on some members of the church. He executed James with the sword. So James, well equipped and well endowed to be of valuable service, was killed by the sword of a King to serve his power-seeking political gain. Throughout history, and to this day, there have been, and are, victims of that kind of thing. Even in the story of Holy Week and the Cross, the effects of power struggle are clear to be seen.
After the shock of James's untimely death the little church prayed earnestly. Refusing to indulge in their deep sorrow took the sting out of bitter sadness. It released them to get on with the "job" of the Kingdom of Love.
After the shock of accepting his "thorn in the flesh", St Paul got on with his vocation, assured by God's message to him just as he was learning painfully to accept it: "My Grace is sufficient for thee."
Jesus's struggle in Gethsemane to accept the inevitable of facing the shock of Calvary is vividly described: "He was in agony and prayed even more intensely so that He sweated great drops like blood falling to the ground." Even Jesus did not want to accept the inevitable, but in earnest prayer He did. The sting of bitterness or resentment was eased. God's Grace was found sufficient to provide the positive acceptance of the inevitable.
Thy way, not mine, O Lord,
However dark it be;
Lead me by Thine own hand,
Choose out the path for me.
Amen.