Jesus And The Suffering Of Man

Written by Rev. Fr. Orlando Mendoza | 05 February 2012

FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
(Green) Cycle B, Year II (February 5, 2012)
Jb 7:1-4, 6-7/1Cor 9:16-19, 22-23/Mk 1:29-39

Suffering is a perennial problem of the humankind. Since his existence, man has undergone suffering in many ways. Because of this, suffering has become an enigma for him that it poses a lot of questions and thinking on the part of man throughout the history of mankind. The common vision on suffering is concreted in the belief of the Jews that suffering, particularly sickness, is an external manifestation of sin. But the problem is, “Why does God allow an innocent man to suffer”? This is the theme of the book of the first reading which is the book of Job. In the first reading, we see Job, the just man, expressing his suffering from grave illness and desiring the end of his earthly life since the hope for a happy day seems so far. 

Being a perennial problem, suffering is always experienced by man even in our modern age. All of us undergo suffering in different ways; all of us have pains, problems, and even sicknesses however minor they may be. And not only good people ask why they experience suffering. Having done everything for the good of the Church and of the humanity and for the greater glory of God, why do these people continue to suffer? Even bad people also ask why they suffer. Sciences, particularly Medicine, are doing everything to lessen the suffering of man if not to exterminate it; yet, suffering endures. They are doing everything not only to lengthen the life of man but even to make man immortal; yet, man inevitably dies. 
The gospel for this Sunday shows Jesus Christ as the Healer of all kinds of sicknesses and the Expeller of all kinds of evil. He first cures the mother-in-law of Peter by raising her up from lying in bed. Then he cures all the many sick people who crowd the house of Peter and expel the demons from the possessed. Jesus Christ comes to cure the humanity and to free it from the slavery to evil and sin. He comes to raise the fallen nature of man and to give dignity into it. He comes to us to give answers to the questions regarding the mystery of suffering by showing to us the mystery of the love of God for us. 

The mystery of suffering transcends the fields of sciences and politics. Only the mystery of love has the capacity to comprehend and respond the mystery of suffering. In Jesus Christ, the mystery of suffering and the mystery of love unite. Such union is expressed to the fullest in the mystery of the cross. Jesus Christ, hanging on the cross and experiencing the greatest of all sufferings, shows the greatest love of God which is expressed in the divine mercy and forgiveness that flow together with the blood and the breath of Jesus Christ dying on the cross. 

Enlightened by the mystery of Divine Love, St. Paul, in the second reading, desires to suffer much for the love of God and for the service of Christ’s Church and the whole humanity. He knows now that suffering is an instrument and proof of love. It is in suffering that Jesus Christ has redeemed us from eternal death and has made us feel the love of God. It is also in suffering that we can show our love and faithfulness to Christ and to His Church. Submitting ourselves to the hands of Jesus Christ especially in the midst of suffering and uniting our suffering to His suffering on the cross is to strengthen our faith and love for Him and to give foundation to our hope for peace and everlasting life.