BASED ON CATHOLIC LITURGICAL READING
THEME: “THE MYSTERY OF SUFFERING”
((Readings: 1st:Jb 7:1-4.6-7; Ps 146;2nd; 1Cor 9:16-19.22-23; Gos-Mk 1:29-39))
Today being the fifth Sunday in ordinary time, our mother church wants us to reflect on the meaning of suffering in our lives. Why is there so much suffering in the world? Why are there calamities, wars, accidents, injustices, sicknesses, deaths, etc.? Why does God not prevent these misfortunes from happening to us if he really loves us? Why do the upright people suffer so much while the wicked and corrupt people enjoy success, wealth, and good health despite their wickedness?
The first reading presents us with the dilemma of Job, an innocent and faithful servant of God. The devil severely tested Job’s faith. He lost everything. As a man, Job complained as most of us would do: “Lying in bed, I wonder when it will be daylight. Rising I think, how slowly evening comes. Remember that my life is but a breath and that my eyes will never see joy.” (Jb 7:4) However, Job did not lose his faith in God.
Perhaps you find yourself in the moment in a situation like Job. Has grief become part of your life? You have witnessed the deaths of your loved ones. Perhaps you witnessed your marriage and your home breaking down while praying and nothing happened. You watched your business collapse or any other misfortune. Perhaps you are struggling with a sickness, financial crisis, or land cases. Are you feeling rejected by your close friends and family? Are you tired of praying and you feel at long last spiritually dry and desperate? It reaches a point in life when living becomes tasteless and meaningless. Are you in such a crisis and perhaps wondering where is your God in this moment that you need him most? Does suffering add any value to our life?
Therefore, when faced with trials and suffering in this life we need to remember the following:
- WE ARE SHARING IN THE SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST. 1Pet 4:13” But rejoice insofar as you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be glad when his glory is revealed”. Suffering has some spiritual benefits because there is no salvation without the cross.” If anyone wants to follow me, he must deny himself, TAKE UP HIS CROSS, and follow me” Mt 16:24 At the end of our grief and crucifixion, we will also experience a moment of resurrection. After the encounter with the risen Lord, Paul dedicated himself to the preaching of the good news. This is his testimony: “For the sake of the gospel I made myself all things to all men, to save some at any cost, and to have a share in its blessing.” So, rather than for wages, Paul saw his call as responsibility towards others’ salvation. He was a full-time itinerary preacher who was always hungry for the conversion of souls for Christ. For the sake of Christ Paul is ready to suffer, to become a slave and a fool.
- A TEST OF FAITHFULNESS TO GOD. Just like in the case of job, suffering is a devil’s method of testing our patience and fidelity to our God. Are we going to deny and curse our God when we are inflicted with pain? Are we going to run away from the church when the cross is too heavy? Are we going to run away from our responsibility and vocation when challenges arise? Are you a good Christian because God has bestowed favors upon you? St. Paul today is aware of the challenges of preaching the Gospel but he is ready to take the cross and not to become a burden to anybody.
- SUFFERING IS MEANS OF STRENGTHENING US. Challenges in life are meant to strengthen our faith and not to weaken us. A testimony from one priest about his sufferings inspires me so much: He said “I asked for strength and God gave me difficulties to make me strong. I asked for wisdom and God gave me many problems to solve. I asked for prosperity and God gave me strength and brains to work. I asked for courage and God gave me dangers to overcome. I asked for patience and God placed me in situations where I was forced to wait. I asked for love and God gave me troubled people to help. I asked for favors and God gave me opportunities. I asked for everything so that I could enjoy life. Instead, God gave me life so that I could enjoy everything. I received nothing I wanted, but I received everything I needed.” This is how we should look at life. Suffering is a means of purifying our souls and even bringing our souls closer to God. If there were no suffering, perhaps many would not pray as they are praying today.
In a nutshell, although suffering is part of human life, God does not want us to live in misery. The Gospel reading presents to us Jesus as a remedy to our suffering. Jesus preached, healed the sick, and delivered many people from all kinds of infirmities and problems. No one encountered him with faith without being healed. If Jesus must heal us, we too must have faith in him, we must search for him in the blessed Eucharist. Also, If the good news must liberate us, we must believe it.
We should not allow our challenges to weaken our faith in God by making us desperate. He has given us his Divine Word as a source of consolation and the sacraments for healing. Mt 11:28 Jesus said „Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest”.(Mt 11:28-30) Let us pray during this Eucharistic celebration, that God will grant us the grace of patience and Faith when afflicted with suffering.
Without Christ, our lives would be pure drudgery. we would be like slaves of the evil one forever. The saving power of God continue to heal, transform our lives and set us free. Looking at what God has done to us; we need to witness this grace to the people who are suffering. Just like Job and the people who received healing in the Gospel, when we look up on Jesus with faith and prayer in the time of our grief, we will never be disappointed.
PRAYER: Praise be the Lord who heals the broken-hearted. Amen
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“May the darkness of sin and the night of unbelief vanish before the light of the word and the spirit of Grace; and may the heart of Jesus live in the heart of all the people. Amen” SVD Prayer
SVD JAMBO KENTAN 