3rd Sunday after Easter 29 Apr 2012 Sermon

3rd Sunday after Easter 29.4.12 Suffering


We are tempted to complain about the way that God treats us. If He loves us so much why do we have to suffer so much? This question is constantly put, both by believers and unbelievers.

Suffering makes the believers want to give up belief; and is a stumbling block for the unbelievers.

If we could somehow take all the suffering out of life - and especially out of being a disciple of Christ – we would gain a lot more recruits, as well as keeping the ones we have.

We cannot actually remove suffering but we can do two things to make it more agreeable.

One is to follow the logic of today’s Gospel passage and understand that suffering is temporary, and short-term at that.

Our Lord likens the suffering of being His disciple to the pain of a woman giving birth. It hurts a lot, but in the context of what happens afterwards it is not so bad. After the birth the woman forgets the pain, so great is her joy.

And this is how it will be for us. We suffer so much in this life but if we get to heaven we will forget all the pain, declaring it to have been worth it.

(Even much lesser triumphs, such as winning a premiership, require a lot of pain and effort, for such a fleeting glory. Yet ask any player in a premiership team and he will say it was all worth it.)

The other thing we can do to make suffering more agreeable is to live this life in close union with Christ. The worldly wisdom says that Christ’s way is too hard and the only sensible thing to do is modify His way to something easier.

True wisdom tells us to live as the Epistle says – like Christ. Love like Him. Do things as He would do them. That is how we can enjoy this life.

It is so much against expectations. But we will find (if we try it) that the way of Christ, restraint and all, actually leads to greater happiness, not only in eternity but here and now.

So for example if you have a harsh master (or boss) do not complain about him; do not wish him harm, but seek to win him over to Christ by the gentleness of your manner.

This is loving your enemy, something so much against the grain; but much more productive than hating him.

Our Lord went to His death in a spirit of mildness and forgiveness to all who were torturing and killing Him. He was concerned for their welfare, not thinking of Himself at such a time.

With His help we can cultivate the same ability.

If we do this we will experience an inner joy and peace that would never come by the worldly way. Hate just brings more hate and chaos on all sides. This is what the world sees everywhere. Look at all the trouble spots in the world; look at world history.

But the love of Christ brings peace and order, and greatly reduces the overall amount of suffering.

Imagine if everyone did this. It is plain that a world in which everyone lived like Christ would be a happier place than the one we have now. Yet people say to Christ that He is wrong. He is unrealistic. But in saying that they do not live like Him, nor even try to.

If we do act like Him we are helping to bring on the better times promised in the Gospel and well as giving ourselves a much better way of coping with the present sufferings.

We can do this if we really set ourselves. His grace will make it possible. The more in tune with His will the more clearly we will perceive His presence; the more powerfully receive His help.