Suffering is quite naturally the least appealing part of human experience. Suffering isn’t just pain, it isn’t just a physical experience, it isn’t just sadness. Suffering applies to every way we are deprived of what is good. Sin is suffering because by choosing what seems to be good over what is really good, we deprive ourselves. Jesus takes all forms of human suffering upon Himself so that we may never find ourselves alone when we suffer. Jesus even takes upon Himself the suffering due to sin – though He Himself never sinned. He allowed Himself to be condemned and punished as a criminal, as a sacrifice – the Innocent One – so that we sinners might find refuge in Him. The One who was without sin became sin so that He might destroy it once and for all in His flesh. His body, broken on the Cross, is the image of our broken soul – broken by sin and suffering. The divinity of Christ – a sure support and powerful force of healing – carries the brokenness and weakness of Christ’s flesh all the way through His death to the Resurrection.
Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
LEO THE GREAT:
There was only one remedy in the secret of the divine plan that could help the fallen living in the general ruin of the entire human race. This remedy was that one of the sons of Adam should be born free and innocent of original transgression, to prevail for the rest by his example and by his merits. This was not permitted by natural generation. There could be no clean offspring from our faulty stock by this seed. The Scripture says, “Who can make a clean thing conceived of an unclean seed? Isn’t it you alone?” David’s Lord was made David’s Son, and from the fruit of the promised branch sprang. He is one without fault, the twofold nature coming together into one person. By this one and the same conception and birth sprung our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom was present both true Godhead for the performance of mighty works and true manhood for the endurance of sufferings.
Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Our Christian life must progressively become a constant reaching out in faith to Jesus for healing. There is a constant temptation to imagine we have been healed and no longer need a Healer or Savior. Our condition on this earth and in this present life is that of a beggar. The beatitude of the poor in spirit draws us into the attitude of faith that gains us a hearing with the one whose love despises not the helpless and broken. Our issue of blood is our sin. Nothing we have done, nor any recommendations given by the physicians of this age have brought us peace or healing. The blood that leaks out of our heart is our life, our hopes, and our ideals progressively draining away. Surely we will die without a physician who actually understands our problem! The operation is not complicated, it is as simple as grasping a dangling thread. Our act of faith moves us completely beyond the dead-end of our earthly existence and fruitless striving for happiness. Healer of the hidden corner of darkness in our souls, gently deliver us from the heaviness we cling to! I surrender to your tender, loving, and healing embrace.