Santhiya Philomone csc –
Readings: Eccl 11:9-12:8; Lk 9:43-45
In today’s Gospel reading Jesus foretells his future suffering and death, which the disciples failed to understand. Jesus ‘words about his suffering impel us to examine our understanding of suffering. Suffering is part of our human existence from birth to death.
Suffering travels with us. But sometimes the suffering stays in a mysterious sense wherein the human being is not able to understand these mysteries. By dying on the cross for our salvation Jesus showed us a new way to understand the meaning of suffering. On Calvary, Christ used suffering as means to win for us the grace of redemption. He experienced the pain of human suffering, sanctified it and made it redemptive. He chose to turn weakness into strength, brokenness into wholeness, helplessness into power.
In our life when we encounter suffering, we should remember the suffering of Messiah then we will be strengthened to deal with the problems and worries that come into our lives. In my journey of following Christ, there will be moments of shame, distress, agony, pain etc. In such moments, I need to steadfastly hold on to my God and my Lord.