Say It Loud and Clear
Crucifix in the St. Meinrad Archabbey Cemetery in St. Meinrad, Indiana
Then Jesus asked his followers, “Who do you say that I am?” It was Peter who responded, “You are the Messiah!” Jesus goes on to explain that they will see him suffer and die. Completely misunderstanding him, Peter openly disagrees with this plan. “Get behind me!” exclaims Jesus. You are thinking as the world thinks and not as God does. Jesus knew that he must surrender and give himself completely to God’s will. And he knew that this was not the end of the story.
How often do I, like Peter, think as the world does and not as God does? In a world with so many opinions that contradict the Gospels, it’s easy to hear and follow a voice that is not God’s voice.
During Lent, I find myself asking the question of who Jesus is. If he is “the Way, the Truth and the Life” as John’s Gospel states, then Jesus’ suffering must be a part of his story and ours.
I don’t fully understand suffering and I certainly don’t understand why Jesus suffered as he did. Out of God’s love for the world, for all of creation, his beloved son suffered unimagineable torture, ridicule, humiliation and crucifixion, the death of rebels and slaves. Why was so much pain necessary? It’s hard for me to consider when I tend to avoid pain. And when someone I love is in pain and I am powerless to help, it can drive me mad.
Who do you say that I am? I think it’s important, even vital, to try to answer that question. I look at Jesus’ life and his suffering. I try to make sense of it in light of his resurrection. I know the outcome of his story, though his disciples did not. Yet, even today I struggle to look his suffering in the eye.
Jesus said that in order to be his disciples, I must deny myself, take up my cross and follow him. I’ve witnessed an unnecessary increase in suffering in recent weeks. Does taking up my cross mean that I face it, walk in solidarity with those who suffer and cry out for justice? At the very least, I can pray that we all wake up to our role in the suffering of others so that we can ease their burden.
Who do you say that I am? I say that you, Jesus, walk in solidarity with those who suffer: the brokenhearted, the poor, victims of war and violence, the ignored and those treated without dignity or love. Help me, Lord, to think more like you and less like the world. Help me to know how I can carry my cross alongside others who carry unfathomable burdens. Thank you for your grace that sustains me with hope so that I can remember that this is not the end of your story.
