Yesterday, we reflected
briefly on Paul’s reminder in Heb. 10: 32-39, that we endure “a great contest
of suffering” as we journey through life. The sufferings we endure could be because of
our own mistakes or the mistakes of others, our own selfishness or the
selfishness of others, our own sins or the sins of others. Suffering enters our lives also because of
perceived pain or misinterpretations of the behaviors of others. Or, we could become victims of natural
disasters or accidents we cause or are caused by others. There are repeated “Newtowns”
and Aurora theater massacres, Columbines and Synagogue attacks, and other
violent incidents that inflict severe pain upon people throughout the world.
There are wars being raged in faraway countries in which we are involved or in
our own country, our own cities and towns, our own homes.
In today’s second reading,
Heb. 2: 14-18, Paul reminds us that Jesus, the second person of the Blessed
Trinity, “had to become like his brothers and sisters in every way, that he
might be a merciful and faithful high priest before God to expiate the sins of
the people. Because he himself was
tested through what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.”
Jesus knows. Jesus cares. Jesus
intercedes for us as we journey through this vale of tears to the Promised Land
of eternal life where there will be no more suffering, no more pain, no more
violence, no more sin. And when I am the
victim or perpetrator of any of these, I can count on Jesus’ intercession for
me before the throne of God. I can know Jesus’ power to make right the wrongs I
have inflicted or that have been inflicted upon me. As the psalmist tells me in
today’s responsorial psalm, Psalm 24, “the
Lord is mighty in battle.” And He fights for me and for you so that we will
know redemption, our own and that of others.
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