Only the Lonely - Part II

From the beginning of sacred Scripture, at the time when God is creating all things and placing mankind as the crown of creation, one fact is stated quite clearly: “It is not good for man to be alone.”

 

God himself says this, offering the first indication that there is something lacking in all he has made up to that point; there is a need in the human heart that cannot be met even by God himself. Man needs “one like himself,” taken from his own nature to be “bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh,” someone equal yet unique, “a suitable partner.” (See Genesis, Chapter 2, verses 18-25.)

 

Indeed, there is a longing in each person’s heart for companionship, for fellowship, for love – love not just in a general or universal nature, but love of this particular person that involves a close and deep personal sharing and knowing of one another. This longing is expressed by God himself at the very creation of mankind.

 

Trouble comes, however, when trust breaks down. After hallowing Eve as his own flesh, Adam soon accuses her of leading him astray, complaining to God, “The woman whom you put here with me, she gave me the fruit from the tree, and so I ate it.”

 

Yet the need for companionship remains, even as all our relationships are subject to human weakness and sin. In the Old Testament Psalms and Proverbs, we read often how friends are wealth, children are a blessing, family is health and identity. In the New Testament, Jesus often goes off to be “alone” with his Apostles. When Jesus is truly by himself, it is when his “friends” abandon him, or when he wishes to pray in full communion with his Father.

 

We started this discussion of loneliness in my last blog, based upon a report in Newsweek magazine showing how profoundly lonely so many Americans feel – with 25% having no one in their lives with whom they can share personal matters. In the history of humanity, this is a wholly new phenomenon, that so many would not feel an intricate part of a tribe, a group, a family, a city, a people. That millions would have no one to share their lives with or pour out their hearts to.

 

Perhaps Scripture can give us some insights into the loneliness of our times and what to do about it. Here are three virtues that we will consider in Part III of this extended blog on loneliness.

 

1.       Trust.

2.       Love.

3.       Forgiveness.

 

Think how they can help in building better relationships, repairing broken relationships, and healing the wounds of loneliness that so many of us feel today.

 

Comments?

Comments

[Gregory, New York]

Dorothy Day was a saint, maybe not in the usual sense, but I know Cardinal O'Connor wanted to canonize her. As Jesus said in the Gospel today a prophet is not honored in his own town.

[Amanda]

It's very funny that you mention Dorothy Day. I think she saw so much of the loneliness of our country, especially in New York, and she responded with the solidarity of the Catholic Worker Movement, which still goes on.

[Gerry K]

I am reminded of the autobiography by the great Dorothy Day, called "The Long Loneliness". She begins the book with a very stirring description of sacramental confession and what it's like to bare your soul before God and your own eyes.

I can't help thinking that if more people went to Confession they would feel less lonely because they would be more forgiving of others because they are forgiven.