24TH SUNDAY B
SUFFERING AS A
WITNESS TO FAITH
24th Sunday
I trained as a chaplain in a
critical hospital in Manila before my ordination. Assigned to the pediatrics
section, I met so many seriously ill children and their families. Sadly many of the kids I had known and
grown to love died while I was there.
Each time a child died, I couldn’t eat or sleep. I just couldn’t fathom why innocent
beings like them would suffer so much and die in pain. I covered my head with a
pillow and stifled my tears.
That is why I understand Peter’s
reaction to the words of Jesus today.
In chapter 8 of Mark’s gospel, Jesus was gradually hinting at his coming
agony and crucifixion. And Peter grumbled, thinking that his protest could stop
Jesus from following the destiny he was mapping out before them. Jesus was the
best guy in the world, with the promise of salvation for all, and he just
couldn’t succumb to the pain he was describing. Peter’s reaction was that of someone who loved and someone
who wanted to protect the beloved.
In life we cause ourselves many
sufferings. Ask the cancer
patients who have been forewarned to avoid smoking or the stroke victim to quit
his hearty fat-filled diet. But
many sufferings come uninvited because they are just part of the whole mystery
of life. We just come to an acceptance that these sufferings are part of our
mission as loving beings. Parents
suffer for their kids and spouses for each other. Teachers, missionaries, charity workers shoulder the plight
of their clients. It is part of
their witnessing to decisions they made in life.
We do not understand suffering
although we bear it. We experience
it, not analyze it. As our daily
life unfolds we are challenged just to confront the trials we have so that we
can survive day by day and be victorious at the end of it all.
Jesus had a wonderful sense that
his mission to suffer was not something arbitrary or meaningless. He was convinced that he wanted to take
up this experience to manifest his deep love for his Father. All his life was an obedient and loving
surrender, and that included whatever he would suffer so he could serve his
Father more. In the end, he also
knew that suffering was just a phase in his life. There will be a Resurrection and that will be permanent!
And so comes his expert
advice: “Take up your cross and
follow me. Whoever wants to save
his life will lose it but whoever loses his life will save it.” Jesus wants us to embrace, not misplace,
the crosses of life. These can
prove our love, our commitment, our witness to faith in God. In the end, these too will pass and
what awaits us is the very same destiny of Jesus in his glory and success.
Maybe today you are experiencing
a great trial, a problem that keeps you awake at night and causes you terrible
fear. Maybe there are problems you
think are too big and you just want to run away from it all. Listen to Jesus and let him lead you to
the best solution to any cross.
Take up your cross and follow him.
Allow his courage to flow into you. Beg him for the assurance that this too, will pass. And together with him, believe that in
the end, there will be fullness of life!
