SERVANT SONG 3: SUFFERING FOR GOD
The
Third Servant Song focuses a little on the trials and difficulties of
someone in the service of God. There is often a lot of misunderstanding
that goes with this task, and we need to be ready for the suffering that
results from this. Maybe the suffering in the time of Isaiah was
largely physical, but today, it is more often emotional and
psychological. Exclusion from the most desired sectors of society, or
groups within society, can be a very effective threat today. Violence
will more often lead to court cases.
Someone
who desires to serve God needs to be secure in his identity in God as
it may become the only support he will ever have. The promise of God is
that He will never abandon us, but this does not mean that we will not
suffer. The groups that say suffering is incompatible with the Christian
way of life are quite wrong. God does not desire that we suffer, but
this is very different from saying that He will cause all suffering to
disappear from the life of a disciple. There will always be suffering as
long as sin exists. It is in heaven that suffering is banished forever.
The
Servant of God needs to pray for the grace of faith to sustain him. It
is only with grace that he can bear and endure the suffering that he
will go through. Without faith, the servant will simply conform to the
ways of the world and lose any chance of influencing society with the
Good News. In Romans 12, Paul calls us to allow our lives to be
transformed so that we will become effective witnesses to all that is
good, acceptable and perfect.
Is this what you want for your life? I hope so, because this is what it truly means to be a disciple of Jesus. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL
REFLECTION
QUESTIONS: What is your attitude to suffering? Do you see how it can
draw you closer to God or as something to be avoided at all costs?
Holy
Spirit, help me to stand firm when people murmur and speak against me
whenever I proclaim the Word of God. Help me to remain strong in my
faith.
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