Why Suffering?

Today’s Gospel Text:  There were some present at that very time who told him of the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. 2 And he answered them, "Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered thus? 3 I tell you, No; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. 4 Or those eighteen upon whom the tower in Silo'am fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who dwelt in Jerusalem? 5 I tell you, No; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish."

6 And he told this parable: "A man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came seeking fruit on it and found none. 7 And he said to the vinedresser, 'Lo, these three years I have come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it down; why should it use up the ground?' 8 And he answered him, 'Let it alone, sir, this year also, till I dig about it and put on manure. 9 And if it bears fruit next year, well and good; but if not, you can cut it down.'" Luke 13:1-9

Reflection: Suffering is a great mystery and the human mind seeking an answer to every problem attributes it to some cause or the other but it is not always a perfect answer or they may be true only at a surface level. 

For example: the headache may be caused by walking in the sun but the underlying reason could be something else. Yet one could be satisfied with the shallow answer because a correction done in one’s lifestyle, by not going out in the sun, could solve the problem. 

Similarly, whatever reason the many may give and which may be true at the surface level but for us Christians who know the truth we cannot be satisfied with any answers given by the rational mind and world except the one that comes from the Lord through his word.  

At the same time, A Christian need not wait to look for that logical answer because at the end of the day their suffering will have meaning and a definitive place in their salvation.

Hence, even if they seek the meaning and reason for sufferings then it is only for a reason; so that they may have the strength to face it or have or know how to seek the Lord ‘s help for healing.

While the birth of many religions are a means to ward off sufferings, Christ Jesus came to teach us to embrace it with thanksgiving and praise so that through it God could perfect us as the sculptor perfects the image or as gold is tested and purified in fire.

For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through suffering. Heb 2:10

    

Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 2 Tim 2:3

Prayer:  Lord, grant me the grace to participate in your sufferings especially in this season of grace.

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