Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Just when we thought that the world cannot get any worse, we were shocked by the awfully gruesome killing of the Jordanian pilot by ISIS militants. They put him in a cage and burnt him alive. We have seen brutality, but acts like these defy our imagination. Or, take for instance, the indiscriminate killing of about two thousand men, women and children by Boko Haram militants in Nigeria. They simply invaded a village and killed them all. Besides these world tragedies, a plane went down in Taiwan killing over thirty people, last year 2.6 million children died of hunger related causes, and last week someone you know was diagnosed with cancer. There is no dearth of bad news. There is much suffering in the world.
The book of Job, from which today’s first reading is taken, is part of the Bible we know as ‘wisdom literature.’ The wisdom tradition in the Hebrew Bible tires to deal with the mysteries of life. And there is no mystery as confounding as the problem of suffering. Even Job’s deepest questioning about his suffering does not lead to a satisfactory answer. The only answer we get is Job’s declaration to God, “I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be hindered. I have dealt with great things that I do not understand; things too wonderful for me, which I cannot know.” For me, the most unnerving and yet attractive reality about the Judeo-Christian tradition is its vulnerability in the face of suffering. Christianity, in particular, offers no defenses against suffering. If someone asks a Christian the question, “Why does your loving God allow suffering?” we really have no answer. And perhaps the answer really is that there is no answer to question of human suffering. Christianity is brutally honest about the fact in the face of suffering we are left without answers.
Even as we honestly admit that we do not have an answer to the question of suffering, we are not left without assurances. Let us explore three of them.
a) Solidarity in Suffering. Painful as it may seem, can you recall a time in your life when you encountered a tragedy or a time when you hit a rough patch? Now may I ask you to recall someone who stood by you through it all? The bright spot in suffering is that while enduring suffering we may discover true friends. There is nothing more precious in the world than friends who stand with us in suffering. Solidarity is the Christian antidote to suffering. God’s answer to human suffering is solidarity. The image of Jesus grasping Peter’s mother-in-law’s hand is the perfect analogy for God’s solidarity with a suffering humanity. That evening when Jesus visited Peter’s home, today’s gospel says, “The whole town was gathered at the door.” God is amongst the people. God has come down to us. God shows solidarity with our condition. Like a good friend who stands by us in time of need, God is with us now. In solidarity, God embraces our suffering. Thus when Christians are confronted with the problem of suffering, we point toward the cross.
b) The fruit of Suffering is Compassion. There is a verse in today’s second reading, which even though Paul uses in a very different context, is powerful in the context of suffering. Paul says, “To the weak I became weak, to win over the weak. I have become all things to all, to save at least some. All this I do for the sake of the gospel, so that I too may have a share in it.” Perhaps, most of you followed Pope Francis’ visit to the Philippines. One of the most poignant images was the Pope visiting the storm ravaged Tacloban, wearing a cheap plastic raincoat like everyone else, even as another storm was hours away. There are two words that Pope Francis has popularized in our world: “Mercy” and “compassion.” Compassion means “to suffer with.” It means what Paul says, “becoming all things to all men [women].” However, it is suffering that elicits compassion. If there was no suffering we would not know compassion, or kindness, mercy, undying love, and holiness. Yes, it is true! There is no answer to the problem of suffering. Yet, suffering has the capacity to elicit the best in humanity. Suffering nudges us to our higher calling. The cross of Jesus Christ is an enduring testimony to this fact.
c) Last week, Pope Francis cleared the way for Archbishop Oscar Romero to be beatified. Romero was the Archbishop of San Salvador at a time when there was widespread economic oppression and gross human right violations. In the beginning, Romero was a mere spectator to the injustice endured by his fellow brothers and sister. But as social injustice reached unimaginable proportion, Romero threw his weight behind those who were suffering. He became one in solidarity with those who were hurting. Here is a quote from his book, The Violence of Love. He writes, “For the church, the many abuses of human life, liberty, and dignity are a heartfelt suffering. The church, entrusted with the earth’s glory, believes that in each person is the Creator’s image and that everyone who tramples it offends God. As holy defender of God’s rights and of his images, the church must cry out.” And he did exactly that. As a result, archbishop Romero was assassinated at the altar as he raised the chalice at consecration. Perhaps not everyone is called to be a Romero. But surely, like Romero, we can show solidarity with the suffering. If we think that hunger in the world is a scandal against God, then let us feed the hungry. If we think that cancer shows God’s indifference then in God’s name let us offer comfort to the sick. If we think that there is too much violence in the world, then let us be the peace of God. The answer to suffering in the world is you and me going about in the name of the crucified Christ and offering solidarity. The best antidote to suffering is a compassionate heart that beats like the heart of Jesus Christ.
In the Eucharist, Christ continues to offer solidarity with us. Just like the people of the town who came to Jesus that day, we too have come to Christ. May, God ease our pain and give us comfort. In return may we offer solidarity to others in their pain. Amen.
- Fr. Satish Joseph