Does God Want Me To Suffer?

Sunday Mass Readings are at the bottom.

Bad Weather

This week's readings talk about suffering and obedience. Speaking of which, it has been quite cold today(Wednesday) here in New England. Last year, I was in the American Southwest in the Spring where this Sunday it will be 80 degrees and sunny (wow). The 34 degrees here is quite a contrast. The point is, this cold weather causes me and my fellow New Englanders some pain. Not only that, but people around here seem to be losing jobs and suffering seems to be upon us. But what does all of this suffering mean and what is the point of it anyway? This week's readings are going to explain it for us whether you live in the Southwest, in New England, or in Europe.

The Purpose of Suffering

The second reading says that Jesus "learned obedience from what he suffered." Okay, so Jesus learned from HIS suffering. What about me? What can I possibly learn from being stuck in traffic for 2 hours? WHat is there to learn from having my heart broken? What can I possibly learn from losing my job?!!

The truth is that the suffering itself is not enlightening. It is how we REACT to suffering that determines whether suffering teaches us, helps us, or destroys us. For example, Matthew 26:39 makes it very clear that Jesus expressed "the horror that death represented for his human nature" when he said "My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me."1 In other words, Jesus knew that suffering was coming, but he didn't run away from it. He accepted it. His obedience was part of what made him "perfect" as the 2nd reading says. And, so I am quite sure that even if Jesus had to deal with 2 hour traffic jams and lousy weather (he slept during a life-threatening storm and was constantly barraged with crowds of people) he would have endured it all.

Jesus' Lifestyle

What if Jesus was obsessed with his OWN pleasure just as we often are? We would be in deep trouble. In truth, we would not have been born if Jesus was obsessed with his own pleasure. If he was, he would have never created us.2

This Sunday's Gospel says,"whoever serves me, must follow me". In the context of Sunday's readings, "following" Jesus means to do as he does. It means to "hates our life in this world." In contrast, to "love our lives in this world" means to do as popular culture teaches. Popular culture teaches us to get as much pleasure as possible and to avoid as much pain as possible. Jesus, on the other hand says that we should serve one another. To focus on personal pleasure as the highest value in life would truly be a life wasted- a life "lost".

Meant To Imitate Jesus

Romans 8:29 says that "For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son" We are meant to be "conformed" to the image of Christ. One definition of conform is "to make similar in form, nature, or character." And so, we are meant to be made similar to Jesus. How does Jesus react to terrible upcoming suffering that is far worse than bad weather or losing one's job? Let us recall that Jesus was innocent. Are ANY of us innocent? Do ANY of us know what it is like to be completely INNOCENT and yet be sentenced to death? Jesus knows. In the face of this terrible upcoming, undeserved suffering he says in this week's Gospel "I am troubled now. Yet what should I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? But it was for this purpose that I came to this hour." In other words, Jesus does not run from suffering because he was born to serve and to save us. He knew that to save us and to serve did not mean to seek personal pleasure. He knew that to serve meant to sacrifice of himself.

So the next time I am faced with suffering, maybe I should remember that I am "predestined to be conformed to the image" of Jesus. Maybe I should consider that the purpose of my life is NOT to enjoy as much pleasure as possible. Maybe I should keep my eyes on my role model Jesus and seek to be like him. It's likely that if I seek to be and to act more like Jesus, I will notice the weather and all the pleasures of this world less and less.

We are meant to be like Jesus. And what an honorable name and an honorable life to imitate.

God loves us.

1- Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraph 612

2- Incidently, this reminds me of abortion. Most abortions are performed because the pregnant couple had just planned on having sex and not having a baby. The baby is inconvenient to the parents. The parents care about their own pleasure more than the innocent life they have already created. On the other hand, God gives us life even though we might not love him in return.

Reading II

Heb 5:7-9

In the days when Christ Jesus was in the flesh,
he offered prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears
to the one who was able to save him from death,
and he was heard because of his reverence.
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.


Gospel
Jn 12:20-33

Some Greeks who had come to worship at the Passover Feast
came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee,
and asked him, "Sir, we would like to see Jesus."
Philip went and told Andrew;
then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus.
Jesus answered them,
"The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.
Amen, amen, I say to you,
unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies,
it remains just a grain of wheat;
but if it dies, it produces much fruit.
Whoever loves his life loses it,
and whoever hates his life in this world
will preserve it for eternal life.
Whoever serves me must follow me,
and where I am, there also will my servant be.
The Father will honor whoever serves me.

"I am troubled now. Yet what should I say?
'Father, save me from this hour'?
But it was for this purpose that I came to this hour.
Father, glorify your name."
Then a voice came from heaven,
"I have glorified it and will glorify it again."
The crowd there heard it and said it was thunder;
but others said, "An angel has spoken to him."
Jesus answered and said,
"This voice did not come for my sake but for yours.
Now is the time of judgment on this world;
now the ruler of this world will be driven out.
And when I am lifted up from the earth,
I will draw everyone to myself."
He said this indicating the kind of death he would die.


Reading 1
Jer 31:31-34

The days are coming, says the LORD,
when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel
and the house of Judah.
It will not be like the covenant I made with their fathers
the day I took them by the hand
to lead them forth from the land of Egypt;
for they broke my covenant,
and I had to show myself their master, says the LORD.
But this is the covenant that I will make
with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD.
I will place my law within them and write it upon their hearts;
I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
No longer will they have need to teach their friends and relatives
how to know the LORD.
All, from least to greatest, shall know me, says the LORD,
for I will forgive their evildoing and remember their sin no more.


Responsorial Psalm
Ps 51:3-4, 12-13, 14-15

R. (12a) Create a clean heart in me, O God.
Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me.
R. Create a clean heart in me, O God.
A clean heart create for me, O God,
and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
Cast me not out from your presence,
and your Holy Spirit take not from me.
R. Create a clean heart in me, O God.
Give me back the joy of your salvation,
and a willing spirit sustain in me.
I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners shall return to you.
R. Create a clean heart in me, O God.