Fr. Michael Williams

All of us to varying degrees have experienced suffering in our lives. Suffering may have come to us through illness; or through the loss of a loved one; or through family breakdown. Whatever form it takes in our lives, suffering usually leads us to ask questions.

The Book of Job, from the Old Testament, deals with the great question of human suffering. Job is described as “a sound and honest man who fears God and shuns evil”. Yet this honest man endures many sufferings. The Book of Job tells us that Job loses all his wealth and property; he then loses his most of his family; and finally he loses his health. After going through so much suffering his wife advises him to, “Curse God and die”. Nevertheless Job replies to his wife, “If we take happiness from God’s hand, must we not take sorrow too”? However, once the enormity of the sufferings he has endured strikes home, Job begins to ask some serious questions about God and the meaning of life.

In today’s first reading we hear Job ask some questions about the meaning of his sufferings. Job asks, “Is not man’s life on earth more than pressed service, his time no better than hired drudgery? Lying in bed I wonder, ‘when will it be day’? Job goes on to ask other questions related to his multiple sufferings. When suffering comes to us it can lead us to question God also. In fact it is important that we enter into a dialogue with God over suffering. God wants us to have a conversation with Him when we don’t understand. Job eventually comes to realise in God’s Wisdom, which is far greater than human wisdom. He accepts God sees the big picture, whereas we only see a narrow angle.

It is believed the Book of Job was written about five hundred years before the birth of Christ. In some sense the Book of Job is a preparation for the coming of the Suffering One - Christ Himself. Christ came down from Heaven to deal with suffering and death once and for all. In the Creed we say, “He came down from Heaven…[and] for our sake He was crucified…He suffered died and was buried…[but] on the third day He rose again”. As a human being Jesus suffered and died; but with His power as God he conquered suffering and death. These things have no power over Him anymore. Jesus is alive today. Sunday is the day we celebrate Jesus’ victory over suffering and death.

In today’s gospel reading we heard how Jesus healed Peter’s mother in law and how the people “brought to Him all who were sick and those who were possessed by devils”. These healings that Jesus performed were signs that He had come into the world to deal with sickness- whether it be physical or spiritual. As the prophet Isaiah says, “He himself bore our sicknesses away and carried our diseases”. Occasionally we still hear of miraculous healings at somewhere like Lourdes today. Miracles still occur where there is faith. When a miracle occurs it is always a sign to the rest of us that Christ is more powerful than any suffering or sickness or evil.

It is only in Heaven when “there will be no more death, and no more mourning or sadness or pain” (Rev 21:4). That is the place where suffering and its consequences have finally been dispensed with. In the meantime as we journey to the Promised Land, we will inevitably have some sufferings to endure, just like Christ endured sufferings. St Peter advises us to, “Unload all your burdens on to Him, since He is concerned about you”(1 Pet 5:7). Like Job it is okay to pour out our hearts to God in times of suffering and pain, indeed He wants us to.

But ultimately we are called to put our faith in God “even though for a short time you must bear all sorts of trials” (1 Pet 1 6). If we put our faith in the Lord He will lead us out of this valley of tears, and lead us into His Kingdom of Light and Peace. He who is faithful will do it, but He does require that we put our faith in Him, who is Lord forever and ever.