“He said Jesus Christ was a shepherd who went searching for those in the flock who were lost or in distress.

“Young or old, woman or man, Christ is still calling those who are suffering to come for healing, as he has for 2,000 years,” Dr Pell said.” – From this article about the opening mass of world youth day 2008

Lost or in distress.

I’m pretty sure I understand those, at least in the sheltered way that a westerner can.

I’m also pretty sure that I cried out for that healing every day when I was a believer.

That healing never came.

In fact, I only got worse.

Take my physical health…. I was quite slim when I gave my life to Jeeeeeeezus. By the time I’d left I’d ballooned out to the size of a short Zeppelin.

As for my mental health…. I’m sure earlier entries on this blog can attest to how depressed I got near the end of my Christian experience. I was tempted many times when riding my motorbike to just “slip” and fall under the wheels of a big rig.

Of course, there is also the issue that those in less developed countries (and some in the developed countries) are suffering on a whole other level. My various emotional disturbances are nothing compared to having no access to clean water, or food, or shelter.

The millions of dollars of taxpayer money alone spent on WYD could have had a great impact on the lives of many who are suffering. When you add all the money contributed by the church and pilgirms…. That would have been much more Christ-like…. Much more in line with:

“struggling against what St Paul calls ‘the flesh’, our fat relentless egos, old-fashioned selfishness”

Not that I am any better…. but I don’t claim to be.

Of course, there is also the suffering that the catholic church brings to the world…. the AIDS epidemic in africa…. everything that Mother Theresa did…. Child molestation and protection of predators…. Fascism….

But all that stuff is obvious.

“And the young ones, I give a gentle reminder that in your enthusiasm and excitement, you do not forget to listen and pray.”

To bring us back to the main point…. you can listen and pray all you want….

I spent five years doing these things, and was one of those who was in the top tier when it came to my dedication to these matters. My attendance at prayer meetings was quite outstanding, not to mention all my personal prayer antics.

Yet…. in all that time nothing happened….

Mountains didn’t move….
Nations didn’t change….

All that crying out is useless when the one you are crying out to doesn’t exist.

Image summoned from here