BEARING OUR INNER AFFLICTIONS

SAINTS MARTHA, MARY AND LAZARUS

Jer 15:10,16-21; Ps 59:2-5,10-11,17-18; Jn 11:19-27

Our Mortal Afflictions

We are sometimes in great distress and ignorant of the possible cause or causes of our afflictions. Among other possible causes of our afflictions as Christians is the fact that we bear the word of God. By the original sin of our first parents, a sinful orientation has gained a place within us. So, our nature, which was made to reflect the goodness of God as the image of the divine, is corrupted by sin, original and actual sins. Our innate disorientation from God and his word makes it possible for the devil to sow his evil seed in us and use us as his seeds in the world. Subsequently, the word of God comes to us with a destructive force, which actually is meant to restore the purity of our nature. We receive the word of God and feel his presence in us as a destructive force because of the evil structures and orientation established by sin, the seed of the devil, within us. The initial destruction carried out by God through his word is a necessary one, for there to arise the true human nature that is renewed in God’s image. The renewal of our human nature took place in the Son of Man in principle. The letter to the Hebrews 5:8 states that: “The Son learnt obedience through suffering.” The Son of Man is said to learn obedience because it is something new and has never had in human nature. He is therefore the foundation or principle of a renewed human nature.

Subsequently, the light of the passion and death of our Lord illuminates every other human suffering and pain. Without reference to him, all who suffer do so in complete darkness and lack understanding of their afflictions. Jeremiah represents all those who suffered before the coming of the Son of Man. “Woe to me, my mother, for you have borne me to be a man of strife and of dissension for all the land. I neither lend nor borrow, yet all of them curse me.” In these words, he expresses his innocence. His affliction is not due to his offence or wrong done to the people. Next, he gives us the reason for his affliction, of which he is ignorant. “When your words came, I devoured them: your word was my delight and the joy of my heart; for I was called by your name, Lord, God of Hosts.” The ingestion of the word of God is the cause of the inner and outer afflictions of the prophet because of the restructuring work the word does inside and outside of us.  The Church recognises the suffering of all the just, first expressed by Abel the just, as their participation in the passion of the Lord. Jeremiah describes the inner suffering, which is more painful than the external ones: “I never took pleasure in sitting in scoffer’s company; with your hand on me I held myself aloof, since you had filled me with indignation. Why is my suffering continual, my wound incurable, refusing to be healed? Do you mean to be for me a deceptive stream with inconstant waters?”

Jeremiah touches on the deepest part of the inner wound or affliction, which is our relationship with God. God, as it were, hides his face from us in our afflictions, such that our faith is sorely tested and purified of material or sensible affectations. This most intense darkness drew from the Son of Man the feeling of abandonment, when he cried: “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” Saints Martha and Mary felt that way when they lost their dear brother, Lazarus, who was also dear to Jesus Christ. Our Lord let them pass through the pain, for he knew it was for the purification of their faith in him; hence, he delayed in coming to their aid. “‘If you had been here, my brother would not have died, but I know that, even now, whatever you ask of God, he will grant you.’ ‘Your brother', said Jesus to her ‘will rise again.’ Martha said, ‘I know he will rise again at the resurrection on the last day.’ Jesus said: ‘I am the resurrection and the life.’” Our inner and outer afflictions make us aware that the life of God is within us and renew us from within. May the prayers of saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus help us to remain faithful and devoted to Christ’s love.

Let us pray: O God, whose Son called Lazarus back to life from the grave and was pleased to be a guest in the home of Martha, grant us, we pray, that, faithfully serving him in our brothers and sisters, we, with Mary, may be found worthy to be nourished by the contemplation of his word. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.