25 February, Tuesday — How Well Can You Suffer For God?

Tuesday of Week 7 in Ordinary Time

Ecc 2:1-11
Mk 9:30-37

…if you aspire to serve the Lord, prepare yourself for an ordeal. Be sincere of heart, be steadfast, and do not be alarmed when disaster comes.

Rare are those who desire to be martyrs. Far rarer are those who delight in the suffering that steadfastness brings. Most desire to be the strong man, the winner, the right one, the one who takes it all. And it is extremely hard to live constantly humbled — whether by circumstances, or as a consequence of another’s actions.

However, the logic of our God turns the world’s expectations on its head. God turns human pride upside down. Most of us do not wish to come last, to be humbled nor experience the pain of poverty in flesh or spirit. The first disciples in the Gospel argued about this (Mark 9:33-35)! This is also evident in the first reading of Ecclesiastes 2:4-7 today. In fact, it is starkly resonant with the Sermon on the Mount (or the Beatitudes).

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are the humble, for they shall inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you.
(Matthew 5:1-12)

Humility and humiliation share their root in Latin. The word ‘humiliation’ comes from the Latin word humiliatus, which means ‘made to lose pride or self-respect’. The word humiliatus comes from the Latin word humiliare, which means ‘to make low or humble’ or ‘humbling, mortifying’. 

In light of this understanding, how do we disciples today live out this command from God that our faith will be tested in the fires of false accusations? It is painfully difficult and almost literally a trial of mortification. Recently, I comforted my child who had been publicly scolded by a teacher for a wrongdoing and accused of malicious intentions far more complex than his seven year self could comprehend. His hurt came from not being given the chance to explain his actions, as well as being made an example of (while being misunderstood) in front of his class. It was mortifying for him and heartbreaking for me to know.

Despite clearing up the misunderstanding with the teacher, we realised that we cannot undo the hurt that had been inflicted on our child. As I reflected on whether the teacher’s remorse over the hasty, unfair and exaggerated accusations (there was none) would soothe the wound of my child, I prayed for wisdom and relief of our family’s disappointment. The readings today tell me that the justice we seek today might not come immediately to us.

Painful as it may be, we will be okay. We will be alright and we will be more than satisfied (spiritually and eternally) if we “aspire to serve the Lord”, “be sincere of heart”, “be steadfast” and ultimately keep our eyes trained on Christ. No doubt, Christ’s peace and mercy will come to us.

Let us be comforted by the Scriptures today which warns, and also encourages, us that our life as a Catholic Christian will be filled with ordeals and suffering — that we ought not be surprised. That we should, in fact, put on the breastplate of steadfastness in anticipation of this humiliation (or calumny). The question of suffering is more aptly phrased: “How well can you suffer for our God?”

Cling to him and do not leave him,
 so that you may be honoured at the end of your days.
Whatever happens to you, accept it,
  and in the uncertainties of your humble state, be patient,
since gold is tested in the fire,
  and chosen men in the furnace of humiliation. (Ecc 2:3-5)

And God’s response is that first-ness is foremost, the prize of Eternity. After all, Jesus did tell his disciples this: ‘If anyone wants to be first, he must make himself last of all and servant of all’ (Mark 9:35). God counsels and comforts my child and I further with this important gesture of Jesus and his next words: ‘Anyone who welcomes one of these little children in my name, welcomes me; and anyone who welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me’ (Mark 9:37). God knows and sees it all, and only the truly wise and truly humble shall have the grace and honour of seeing as our Lord sees.

(Today’s OXYGEN by Debbie Loo)

Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, I pray for your healing comfort over the injustices inflicted on the people around me. I know that these wounds are not visible and can cause great distress and even depression when unaddressed. Jesus, please stay close to the many children in our country who have experienced bullying amongst peers or the uncaring attitudes of those in authority. We ask for Your wisdom to be poured onto educators and parents when discerning these situations. May our children never feel alone or that they have no one to turn to.

Thanksgiving: Dear God, we give thanks for our family who stand by us in times of distress and despair. We give thanks for the presence of others inside and outside the system, inside and outside the home, who show us the face of love and concern.