When did Christ first encounter Suffering?

Some may say, “It was after he preached at Nazareth and said," Today this scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.” (Lk 4: 21). And they would be correct as far as thinking on our part can pin-point a real twisted knowledge of fairness with spiritual realism.

Putting this question into perspective we need to look at his suffering in a divine atmosphere and begin with the obvious rejection of God before he created everything, including man. When God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” (Gn 1: 26). Here is where the first instance of a free will would corrupt the trust God instilled within his creature and watch how this man would be the first to bring suffering to the Holy Trinity.

Was this emptying of trust handed to mankind a mistake, either by giving him free will or too much trust in making his own decisions? God cannot make a mistake since he is the one entity that created everything that is good. “God looked at everything he had made, and he found it very good.” (Gn 1: 31).

Who among us has made the same contribution that was handed to the suffering that Christ endured for one reason? His eternal love for each of us in spite of our misuse of free will or the decisions we make when our conscience says no.

The irony we can see in all these adverse reactions to counter the patience of a God who would never withhold his mercy is beyond the human capacity to understand the tolerance needed to be forgiving towards anyone who parallels our own lack of love when others make themselves better than you or me. How often do we want to tell those who take us for granted that, “I am someone who counts somewhere and somehow, why do you snub me?

Even if you know of one who just doesn’t care about you, Christ discovered the very same attitudes in every town he visited and all of the Jewish religious leaders that were for their own satisfaction of doing God’s will, and failed miserably.

Finding the reasons some of us are overlooked for no valid practical purpose can be age, becoming a master of our own philosophy, or just living our personal goals that are not contrary to justice. This can be a common attribute of the theme that states, “I am in charge and don’t forget it.”

This happens to be the Jewish leaders, Pharisees and others in control of the Temple, and their thoughts when Jesus brought them the words of prophecy that did not agree with their stubbornness and disbelief in what God ordained from the very beginning of human life.

Unfortunately, we also have inherited the pagan attitude that they are right, and your philosophies are to be considered obscene and also reflect blasphemy as with the accusation against Jesus.

We must remember what Jesus told his disciples regarding their choice to follow him; “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son of daughter more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Mt 10: 37 - 39). All of the Apostles, except for John, lost their lives for Christ. Even St. Paul is included in this occurrence.

You and I can relish the fact that ignoring us for any reason is included in following Christ and this is what the cross we must carry for the love of Christ will be noted in our judgment. We should welcome these moments, no matter what the title or from whom they came.

Ralph B. Hathaway