Suffering and Sacrifice

We human beings do all we can to avoid or relieve suffering and of course this is often a good thing.  In Catholic Moral Theology, suffering is a moral evil and so it is right to try to do without it.  A simple example is when we have a headache.  Many people will turn to medication and take a tablet to relieve the pain.

But on a larger scale, it is possible that we go through our lives trying to avoid suffering and pain so much in ways that are not wholesome.  For example, many people have addictions or comforts or escapes which take them away from facing the reality of life.  Even workaholics are sometimes avoiding facing suffering.

The readings today all help us with a way of dealing with suffering.  First of all, we hear the prophet Jeremiah.  He is regarded as being the prophet who suffered the most.  We actually hear him confronting God and complaining, “O Lord, you have deceived me, and I was deceived…”

Speaking to God in an honest and real way in prayer is surely the best way to start to deal with our suffering.  The psalmist continues this theme and shows that he is “poor in spirit” in that his words show that he knows he is totally dependent on God.  Our suffering at least does tend to turn us towards the Lord.  The psalmist has confidence that the Lord has provided in the past and will do so again.

But it is the words of St Paul that today might make us take issue at first.  He tells people to, “…present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”  I am sure that these words might make us worry that sacrifice will bring us more suffering.

However, in the Gospel reading, the sacrifice we are called to becomes clearer.  Peter doesn’t want Jesus to suffer in the way he has predicted that he will, but Jesus insists that we are called to deny ourselves, take up our crosses and follow him.  The beautiful truth at the heart of our faith is that in losing our lives in sacrifice, we actually find them.  

God bless, Fr Kevin.