The joyful celebration of Christ’s resurrection
followed an active and deeply appreciated Lent for me. Having celebrated these
sacred ties many times in the past, I feel especially grateful in these my
later years for this one! Shortly before Lent began, Rev. Kenneth Overberg, SJ
gave us a day on the “Mystery of God and Suffering” which provided me with many
new ideas. He also made available to us copies of his book Into the Abyss
of Suffering which became my special Lenten reading.
This
book is fascinating in its explanation of the different gospel representations
of events in the life of Jesus. Details
in incidents in the four Gospels differ—more explanation given to some than to
others. The basic truth Fr. Overberg emphasizes is that Jesus Christ became totally
human in all things except sin. His suffering was part of his humanity. The
gospels were written from a “post resurrection perspective” so that the things
which the gospel writers witnessed were seen in different ways from different
points of view. Our experience also influences the way we see the gospels in a
special way. But reading the events of Jesus’ life in the gospels gives an
appreciation of that writer’s experience. Mark was first to write, followed by
Matthew and Luke and then John whose gospel is quite different.
The
book of Job was good reading to accompany Fr. Overberg’s thought and images and
a help to understand the acceptance of suffering. Job is cited and seen as a
real “sufferer” but I had a hard time with parts of the book—not the beginning
and the end!
Fr.
Overberg’s book has only six chapers but each is full of new ideas to challenge
the mind. I found myself doing more and more Scripture reading especially in
trying to answer the questions he poses at the end of each chapter. I had to
read chapter several times and had to work to get answers.
Throughout
Into the Abyss of Suffering there was much to think about and I shall continue
to keep Fr. Overberg’s book at hand, food for heart and mind!
Sr.
Andrea Collopy, OSB
Dear Sister, thank you for telling me about this book. It sounds very good. Deeper reading and close focus on the Gospels has been a gift in my life in the last ten years and I am very grateful for it. The meaning of Jesus Christ, the meaning of The Christ, the doorway opening to heaven for the Greeks and all others through the Gospel, even the details of the translations -- the Holy Vulgate & Jerome translation of the Lord's Prayer, a holiness there which is more true perhaps because of the way it is translated. We need to balance the suffering of the beloved ones in our family and friends, and our own troubles (Jesus shows that also), with remembering the glory of God's giving and creating love, which is the source of the whole of the world, of all sides, of all faiths, of all matter. The smallest particle & the greatest star. God bless OSB, amen
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