Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered;
and when he was made perfect,
he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.
H aving developed many technologies to address pain and suffering, including therapyf, medicine, and surgery; and having created as many technologies to cause pain, including ghost guns, kamikaze drones, and nuclear bombs; it is typical of our age to wonder why the innocent suffer. An age which questions the existence of God, denies the sacred destiny of our race, and insists that we are creatures of earth like many others, also wonders why life is so uncomfortable.
Thoughtful people might respond: "Why should the innocent not suffer?" and "Why should life be comfortable?" If humankind has no destiny, if we are only the product of evolutionary processes, why would we not experience life like other inhabitants of this unfortunate planet?
Where Stoics find an artificial dignity in imagining their clever minds are superior to human suffering, and to humans in general, Christians find our purpose and satisfaction in sharing the sufferings of Christ. We belong here, and want to be here, because Our Lord chose to be here and redeemed us through his passion, death, resurrection, and mission to gather all nations into the Kingdom of God his Father. If he has suffered the crucifixion for us, why would we not suffer with him?
If he who was not ashamed to call us his brothers and sisters took such delight in our company, why would we not accept both good things and evil from the Lord, as Job said? "The Lord gives, the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord!"
Jesus learned obedience through his suffering, and so we look for the same wisdom in our sorrows, disappointments, setbacks, humiliation, and pain. We expect it to be there and we find it when we discover that He is walking with us. Stoics and skeptics prefer to walk alone; isolation is a point of pride with them.
We see the infinite dignity of our human nature in the Lord's willingness to carry his cross, and we recognize it in the faces of those with whom he walks. They might not recognize his presence until we remind them of it, but they too find it reassuring.
In the face of the world's latest wrong solution -- medically assisted suicide -- the Holy Spirit reminds us that suffering and compassion walk together. If we humbly assist others in their time of need, we are ready to accept the care of others when our time comes. But if anyone secretly or unconsciously regards the needy with contempt even as they assist them, they also despise the help of others and claim a faux right to suicide.
Life was never supposed to be easy. That should be obvious to anyone who pays attention; it comes both as revelation and reassurance to those who know the Lord. But our suffering is also supposed to be met by the compassion of others. That's why we're here.
As we celebrate the Lord's victory over sin and death, we ask him for the courage to take up our crosses and follow him. We will not be surprised by the inconveniences, losses, and loneliness that accompany human life and accumulate with old age. We will be ready to offer our compassion to others and receive it with the same generous courage.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.