On the Feast of St. Andrew, Apostle, it is challenging to put our thoughts into words due to the overwhelming grief we feel. The pain and suffering in our world today are heartbreaking, and it leaves us speechless. However, just like our ancestors, who faced their own traumas, we must find ways to work through our pain. Resilience, a field of research dedicated to overcoming adversity, suggests that our Scriptures may serve as a guide for developing resilience.
The events unfolding in the Middle East are so shocking that they can feel unreal. It is easy to deny or be paralyzed by grief when faced with such immense suffering. However, our biblical ancestors chose a different path. They did not turn a blind eye to the reality of their world, nor did they allow themselves to be consumed by grief. The fact that we are here today, learning from them, indicates that their approach to resilience was effective. Leading resilience researcher Lucy Hone has identified three key strategies for resilience, and we can examine whether these align with our faith tradition.
Firstly, awful things happen, and it is essential to acknowledge and lament them. The biblical writings we have today are a testament to the multiple generations that lived through significant trauma. These Scriptures do not present simplistic stories of heroes and visionaries but rather brutally honest accounts of wars, famines, and displacements. They also shed light on the abuse of power against the weak and vulnerable. The majority of the psalms, for example, recount experiences of suffering. The preachers and writers who left us the Sacred Scriptures shared stories of betrayal, violence, corruption, and fear. They did not depict an idyllic world but a broken one that needed God’s companionship and healing. As we navigate the grief of our own time, we can find solace in the fact that the wisdom accumulated over millennia is here to support us and help us develop resilience.
Secondly, it is crucial to look for the good amidst the pain. This does not mean finding a silver lining or trying to justify terrible things as tests. Instead, it is about rebuilding our capacity to process grief and find hope. The Gospel of Matthew recounts the beautiful memory of Jesus calling Peter, Andrew, James, and John to join him. This memory can inspire us and remind us of moments of pure joy. When Jesus’ friends feared for their lives after his arrest and it seemed like their mission had failed, they likely recalled such moments to uplift one another. The Scriptures are filled with these instances when something truly beautiful breaks into reality, inviting us to pause, notice, remember, and even reenact. Resilience experts advise grieving individuals to identify three good things in their day, fostering a habit of gratitude. Ignatius of Loyola teaches a similar practice through the daily examen.
Lastly, we must choose what will help us in our journey towards resilience. Psychologists emphasize the importance of being aware of what benefits or harms us. Our biblical ancestors understood this concept well. They recognized that God’s guidance could come from various sources and that they needed to be receptive and act in ways that would lead to goodness. In the memory by the Sea of Galilee, Jesus’ friends had the opportunity to make a choice. It is unlikely that they made a hasty decision to abandon everything and follow him. Rather, they had been living with him for some time, understanding his values and feeling that being with him was right. They believed that what he asked of them would be beneficial for themselves and others.
As we grapple with the grief of our present time, we can lament, remember, and discern with gratitude that the wisdom accumulated over millennia is here to accompany us and help us develop resilience.