Can I help?

Today I heard someone answering a question about temporal punishment for sin, in the course of which they mentioned the concept of "offering up" one's own sufferings, specifically in the context of uniting oneself to the sufferings of Jesus on the Cross for the salvation of mankind.  I remembered discussing the same thing with my children when they learned about this in Religious Ed.  The question is, if God became man in order to offer the perfect sacrifice for our sins, how is it there could be anything lacking in what He suffered? and therefore of what value is our own suffering when we offer it up?

The answer I provided is this:  Imagine Jesus carrying His cross.  Although it is a grievous struggle for him he is able to carry the burden.  Yet if you were there, and went up to Him and said, "Please, may I help You," even though he is able to carry the burden alone, wouldn't He feel grateful and accept?  Not because he needed your help in order to finish the task, but because your offer itself gave comfort.

The world is not perfect, and human nature is still flawed, and so we will continue to experience suffering of one kind or another. It is a given part of human life. We must not ever just roll over and give up, but when we do encounter this inevitable aspect of human life, which in itself is a moral evil, we can say "I am going to experience this anyway, so here, Lord, let me walk with You and keep You company along this road a while."

I can't make everything better for you, but I can keep you company if that is the only thing I have to offer.

Liturgical Hours, family style

I thought this year I'd be able to keep a monastic prayer schedule, roughly following the traditional Liturgy of the Hours: Office of Readings at dawn followed by Morning Prayer before work, then Evening Prayer after work, and Compline at bedtime, because the family would be out of the house before 6am and return home well past dinner.  Things haven't worked out that way, and I have the blessing of my family much more than I anticipated.  So where then is the cloister?

My "Office of Readings" at dawn includes checking the weather, brushing and braiding someone's hair, listening to the anticipations of the day's classes.  Morning Prayer is a fervent "Thank you Lord!" for the blessing of having such moments, and thoughts of praise for the beauty of the world as I walk to the train during the sunrise.

Evening Prayer comes as I leave work, walking from the office across the wide lawns to the street and up to the train station, and continues as I walk to the house as the sun sets.  Life's rythm picks up speed as I walk in the door, change from my work clothes and start preparing dinner.  When everyone arrives home I hear reports of the day's activities, almost a collective Examination of Consciouse, and we have dinner together before spreading out through the house for homework.

I do read Compline many nights, and try to have us all read it together; after years of saying bedtime prayers with each child it seem appropriate to do something together.  So before the first person goes to bed (usually me), we gather together again for Bedtime Prayers, then say good night.

It isn't what I expected, but it certainly is appreciated!