ALL SAINTS MARGARET STREET
Evensong, Trinity VI (23.07.06)
Fr Ivan Aquilina
One of our shared human experiences is suffering. It comes in different
degrees and intensity. Some suffer as a direct result of their actions,
some because of sinful actions of others; others still suffer as a result
of a natural calamity. Whatever it is, suffering touches every created
being and for us humans it is a mystery that we are still none the wiser
after contemplating it for thousands of years. Today, as we pray for Peace
in the Middle East and as we see harrowing images from Lebanon and Israel,
this painful reality is in front of us.
Providentially, our readings tonight shed the light of Faith on the problem
of suffering.
The first reading is about Job. We all have been in his shoes for some
degree or other. Even if we have not shared his experience we can empathise
with him and in reading that book one can adopt some of the phrases that
Job utters. Job is the just man who went that extra mile. He lived in
peace until that day when an external force caused a dramatic turn of
events and threw Job in utter misery, desolation and suffering. It was
a situation which made Job struggle with his perception of God. His three
so called friends turn up, they think they have the answers; they cause
more suffering to Job, the suffering of misunderstanding. Job never doubted
God he just has an almighty row with Him. Job is finally vindicated, many
are not. Job is a parable that deals with the problem of suffering. Job
is depressed but he still keeps the lines of communication with God open.
Dialogue is the patient response to all conditions of life even more so
when in suffering. This intensive dialogue between Job and God leads Job
to value the importance of hope. Job lives in hope and it seems that our
weapon in the face of suffering is hope. Let us see what the deposit of
faith teaches about hope.
Hope is one of the three theological virtues with Faith and Charity. These
enable us to live in relationship with God. The theological virtues are
the foundation of Christian life. They are infused by God into our souls,
the pledge of the presence and action of the Holy Spirit in us.
Hope is the virtue by which we desire eternal life as our happiness, placing
our trust in Christ's promises and relying not on our own strength, but
on the grace of God. Hope keeps us away from discouragement; it sustains
us during times of abandonment; opens up our heart in expectation of happiness,
preserves from selfishness and leads us to the joy that flows from charity.
Christian hope unfolds from the beginning of Jesus’ preaching in
the beatitudes. The beatitudes raise our hope toward heaven as the new
Promised Land; they trace the path that leads through the trials that
await the disciples of Jesus. Hope is the sure and steadfast anchor of
the soul. As St Paul teaches, hope affords us joy even under trial. Hope
is expressed and nourished in prayer, especially in the Lord’s Prayer,
the summary of everything that hope leads us to desire. In every circumstance,
each one of us should hope, with the grace of God, to persevere to the
end and to obtain the joy of heaven, especially as we struggle with suffering.
When tossed about by the tempests of life it is hope in the Mystery of
God which is the real way forward.
In a few words Jesus is our only real hope. As our second reading told
us Jesus is not ashamed to call us his brothers and sisters, with him
as our only hope no suffering can win; bruise us yes, destroy us never.
When we face suffering let us be wise and take counsel from tonight’s
anthem:
Jesus the very thought of thee
With sweetness fills my breast
But sweeter far they face to see
And in thy presence rest.
Jesus is our hope, he has experienced all forms of suffering, he is our
brother, in his presence we may rest, rest not to run away but to bring
this hope: Jesus - to the multitudes out there also experiencing suffering.
Surrounded as we are we fix our gaze on Jesus and put all our hope on
Him.