Tuesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
(Hebrews 2:5-12; Mark
1:21-28)
Suffering is ambivalent. It breaks some. They become bitter, insensitive, and
wicked. It ennobles others. Under proper tutelage suffering strengthens many
to resist evil, sensitizes them to others’ pain, and moves them to call upon
God. During the great depression the
experience of want catalyzed stinginess in some and sharing in others. Today’s first reading claims that Jesus was
perfected through suffering.
The author of the
letter has Jesus’ passion and death in mind.
Crucifixion has been called the severest of tortures. Jesus’ torment was magnified by anticipation
of the pain. Knowing that he would
suffer for others did not necessarily lighten the load. When Jesus looked on his disciples sleeping in
the garden, he might have wondered if his ordeal was worth it. To his advantage, however, Jesus had the Holy
Spirit as his guide. The Spirit turned the
evil of the disciples into Jesus’ springboard of generosity.
The Holy Spirit, who
is God, will use secondary causes to achieve its ends. We might attribute growth in suffering to the
example of parents or the wisdom of a friend.
But ultimately it is the Spirit who brings about good. We should pray to the Holy Spirit when we cope
with suffering with a trial. The Spirit
will arrange that the suffering accrue to our benefit.
