Jesus
always sets the pace and shows himself the model and example for
what needs to be done in life. A meaningful life, St. Paul tells us, is one patterned
after that of the life-dynamic of Jesus: and that dynamic is one of suffering
with and for another out of true concern and sense of brotherhood, and not for
any sentimental or emotional reason.
God is a God of compassion and encouragement; he suffers
with us by sending his Son in the likeness of our own human flesh. And this Son
suffers for us and then offers us the encouragement of knowing that what we
suffer can be transformed into something glorious sooner or later. Though we
may want it sooner, sometimes it may come later: but this will be because later
is best for all involved.
And so Paul asks the
Corinthians to join him in suffering (united to Christ’s) so that all may share
his consolations, encouragements and strength provided by faithful adherence to
his friendship.
In the gospel passage Jesus
teaches that his Kingdom is not an easy one to belong to because it is all
apparently backwards, backwards to those with worldly vision only. If the truly
noble and royal are the poor, the mourning,
the meek, the hungering and thirsting, the merciful, the clean of heart, the
peacemakers, the persecuted – then the world wants nothing of this: for it
wants power, honor, pleasure, self-centered complacency!
Only the true Christian, and
friend of Jesus, who suffers with him and for him, could understand and choose
the opposite as the standard behind which it would stake its life! Let us
rejoice and be glad for Christ is our strength and our hope – taste and see his goodness!
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