Beloved Parishioners,

Today’s Pastor’s Corner is centered on suffering and how to unite our suffering with that of the suffering of Christ.

“At the basis of the whole world of suffering, there arises the question: Why? It is a question about its meaning. What makes suffering precisely human suffering?

Although physical pain is widespread in the animal world, only the suffering human being knows that he is suffering and wonders why. Closely akin to the question of suffering is the question of evil. Why does evil exist? Why is there evil in the world? When expressed in this way, we are to a certain extent asking a question about suffering as well. Both questions are difficult when put to other people and when put to God. Man puts these questions to God as the Creator and Lord of the world. Concerning these questions there arise many frustrations and conflicts. It also happens that people, at times, reach the point of denying God.”

During this ordinary time of the year, prayers and the readings of the Masses are carefully selected to equip us to cope with some of the suffering that may come our way. A reflective meditation on the gospel readings during this ordinary season will reveal how God speaks to us in the scriptures and how his power is evident to sustain us amid our suffering. In my priestly ministry I have witnessed how suffering like sickness, death of a loved one or family feud have negatively impacted the faith of many Christians. This makes us ask why me? Where is God in my suffering? If God is a loving Father, why does he not take away my pain and suffering? How did God allow such things to happen to me despite my faith in him? These and many other similar questions pose a great threat to our faith. Jesus at the peak of his passion had to cry out “If it thou will take this cup away from me but not my will but let your will be done.” This tells us that even Jesus himself faced suffering and would have wanted it taken away from him.

John Paul II, one of my most favorite popes in history, has written a lot on suffering especially in Salvifici Doloris he acknowledges that the issue of suffering is a difficult question. John Paul came face to face with suffering. He lost his mother at a very tender age, as that was not enough he lost his only brother through sickness and later lost his father. He was an orphan at his young age and the fear of being arrested or killed when he entered the seminary was constantly in his mind. In addition, his country Poland was under Nazi occupation, and he saw how many of his friends, colleagues and neighbors were killed, some ran mad and many lost hope because of the Nazi occupation.

One would have thought that with his election as the Pope that the suffering he faced ended but that was not the case. He came very close to death when he was shot on May 13, 1981, at a very close range. He recovered but that left him with many complications he had to carry for many years. He suffered from Parkinsons disease for many years. In all these he remained firm and close to God. What kept him going was his ability to unite his suffering to that of Jesus Christ.

Beloved parishioners, the most outstanding way to face our suffering is never to give up. Surrendering to depression does not do any good. Let us never forget that God has never abandoned us in any way. He never abandoned his son and would also never abandon us. Like John Paul II let us unite our sufferings to that of Jesus and he will give us the grace to face our suffering, challenges and problems.

BACK TO LIST