Of Suffering and Doing Good

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/091514.cfm) reminds me that suffering is part of our lives as followers of God.

Suffering, together with pain, is part of life. That’s a given. As with problems, they say that you only run out of it when you’re dead. However, there are different reasons for suffering. Not all suffering is good.

The bible tells us that it is better to suffer for doing good, if that be the will of God, than to suffer for doing evil (1 Peter 3:17). Makes sense, right? In the same way that a righteous person can suffer for doing God’s work and living his ways, a wicked person can also suffer for doing good.  An evil person can suffer as a punishment for the evil and crime he has committed, in the same way a faithful missionary can suffer and be imprisoned by doing God’s work.

God sees our suffering.

As we commemorate our Lady of Sorrows today, we are reminded that God sees them. He knows our suffering. In the first reading, we see that there are sufferings and divisions even among believers. But a good comes out of it – real believers will be known. The psalmist encourages us to proclaim the death of our Lord until he comes again. Death and suffering go together, but it brings with it hope and new life. And in the gospel, Mary receives a warning of pain and suffering – that a sword will pierce in her. But this too brings new life and hope – for it will reveal the real heart situation of people.

Jesus death caused suffering and pain to those who love him, but God turned it into hope and a source of happiness, when it became the start of a new life in Him.

May we remain firm in God, and be faithful to him, despite the sufferings in our lives and around us.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live, for another week to work. Thank you for another chance to love and serve you. Thank you Lord for the reminder that you see my sufferings. I ask that you help me. Enable me to focus on you all throughout. Give me strength to face the challenges in life. May I be faithful to you despite all the suffering around me. Amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-