March 24, 2002

Passion Sunday gives us an opportunity to ask whether we Christians glorify suffering. Do we think God wanted Jesus to suffer? NO! Does God want us to suffer? NO! What God wants is for us to love and serve the Lord and one another as passionately as Jesus loved and served God and the human family.

The readings for Passion Sunday revolve around two meanings of the word "PASSION." Paul's letter to the Philippians illustrates how these meanings intertwine. Christ felt such passion (LOVE) for humanity that he took on our human condition and endured the most extreme passion (SUFFERING) we can image as the servant of God.

Jesus' passion does not suggest that suffering is a good thing or that we should endure unnecessary suffering. Instead, his passion tells us three things about human suffering. When, like Jesus, we must suffer injustice or pain, it tells us that Christ has felt what we are feeling. We can take comfort in his "COMPASSION" and find inspiration in his example of seeking and doing God's will. When, like Mary, we witness others suffering injustice or pain, it reminds us that Christ is suffering in them. We are called to stay by their side and do everything we can to alleviate their suffering without counting the cost. When, like Peter, any of us suffers from moral frailty, it persuades us that Christ's love for us is limitless. We can accept with gratitude that the passionate love he showed each of us in his passion and death and forgive others as he has forgiveth them.

Suffering is not intrinsically good but the reason for suffering may give it value. Jesus' suffering came as an unavoidable consequence of his love for us and his unswerving perseverance in serving God. It is the passionate love behind the passionate suffering that Jesus' PASSION worthwhile.

SO THE QUESTION: SEEK AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOVE AND SERVE THIS WEEK NOT COUNTING THE COST.

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