(Hebrews 2)
In the 1940s and 1950s a number of priests in France set out early in the morning to work in factories and on docks. These worker-priests saw that many laborers were no longer coming to church. So they brought the gospel message to them. It became a contentious experiment, however. The worker-priests promoted labor union activity which was, of course, opposed by company managers who did go to church. Eventually, the worker-priests were told by the hierarchy to leave their jobs.
The worker-priest movement perhaps found its inspiration in the part of the Letter to the Hebrews that we read today. Just as Jesus Christ had to experience the human condition in order save humanity from sin so the priests in mid-20th century France had to work side-by-side with the common people. The reading is quite explicit. Jesus was tried by suffering, it says, so that he might help others who suffer.
Suffering is part of every human life but especially the Christian life. Jesus tells his disciples to take up their cross and follow him. That is, we should not avoid suffering at all costs but rather embrace it when it comes our way in order to serve our Lord. When we are sick, we can bear with the discomfort as an offering in prayer to God for others’ salvation. When we are well but find it distasteful to visit the sick, we should not shirk that responsibility. Doing it, we suffer with Christ again for others’ welfare.
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