The Gospel of Matthew, chapter 16:22

Love, they say, is a many splendored thing. It is so mysterious that it can turn suffering into joy. Suffering is part of life, from the moment we came into this world puking and screaming until the day we draw our last breath.

Have you ever wondered why the good seem to suffer while evil people prosper? That is the question which the bible deals with concerning Job. The answer is almost as puzzling as the question, as we will see in today’s scripture.

We meet Jesus in Matthew sixteen as he prepares his disciples for his own crucifixion and death. We listen to St. Peter as he tries to spare his master the indignity of the cross. Fascinating, is it not? St. Peter, like the critics of Job in the Old Testament, could not envisage a good person like Jesus, having to suffer. Suffering, Peter imagined, was only for bad people on account of their sins.

People try to protect themselves from suffering in all kinds of ways: getting away from it all, buying a new toy, changing the job, popping pills, you name it. Some people even feel that others are the cause of their suffering and pain. So, they think all they need to do is refuse to love anyone. In that way, they will never have to take a risk, never be disappointed and never have their trust betrayed. It is a safe way to live. The only problem is that while the refusal to get involved may protect one from pain, it never causes much joy either. That is how Jeremiah, the prophet, felt. He tried to avoid loving and found that there was a deep need within him for union, leading him out of himself into faithful love of God. Escape from suffering can be as painful as suffering itself.

Love conquers all, even suffering. This is the Christian message. When a person loves, suffering loses its sting. To be sure, the person who loves God and all God’s children will experience suffering. But, what is happening is that selfishness is dying within us, and that is a painful process. When the death to selfishness is complete, then love and joy will dance together. We only reach this stage, perfectly, in Heaven when every tear will be wiped away and selfishness will be no more, but we begin to experience this awesome reality of God’s love here on earth

Suffering is certainly not a punishment from God. How could it be since the Son of God had to suffer? It is not good to see any living creature suffer, and we have a Christian obligation to relieve the suffering of others. We should not cause others to suffer, at least consciously, and we should try to avoid all unnecessary suffering to ourselves.

But, suffering can be a sign that we are able to give love. So, let us not fear to love, even if it causes pain. When Peter objected to Christ’s suffering, the Lord replied: “get behind me, Satan! You are not judging by God’s standards but by man’s”

Great love and great suffering go together. On the cross, Jesus demonstrated His great love for us.

Fr. Hugh Duffy