JESUS SPECIALLY PRAYS FOR YOU AS YOU LIVE IN THIS SUFFERING WORLD.

 Sunday, May 21, 2023

7th Sunday of Easter

First Reading. Acts 1: 12-14
Psalm. 27: 1, 4, 7-8a (R. 13)
Second Reading. 1 Peter 4: 13-16
Gospel. John 17: 1-11

TOPIC FOR REFLECTION

JESUS' PRAYER FOR HIS SUFFERING CHILDREN IN THE WORLD.   

The intricacies of life: Life is a duo, in two folds

1. God and Human
2. Heaven and Earth
3. Man and Woman (boy and girl)
4. Good and Evil
5. Enjoyment and Suffering
The question is, if all that God created is good for Enjoyment, how did suffering come into existence?

Did God create suffering?
Did God make suffering part of human existence?
Did God create humanity to suffer?

On another note,
Is suffering part of God's divine plan?
Is suffering a way of life?
Is suffering evil in itself?
Is suffering the gateway to paradise or damnation?

Hmm, my dear, we do not need a prophet to tell us that suffering is real. No one can deny its existence, all we need is how to cope with it.

However, in my reflection, I am happy to let you know that God did not create suffering.

God creates Joy, Peace, Love and Happiness; while humanity creates suffering. Suffering is man's invention.

Suffering came into the world through Adam and Eve, and to date, it continues until the whole world turns to God.
Many times, we invent suffering where it does not exist.

Below are some of the ways we bring suffering into existence.
1. By maltreating people unjustly
2. Denying people their fundamental human right
3. When we live and dwell in Greed, jealousy, envy, cheating others, etc.
4. When say black is white for selfish reasons, bearing false witness against one another, etc.
5. When Pride swallowed us

Initially, suffering has no spiritual benefit, but Jesus came into the world and spiritualized suffering, that is, He gave suffering a spiritual meaning and benefits.

More reason St. Peter admonished us in today's second Reading saying...
"Rejoice in so far as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are reproached for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory and God rests upon you"
He went further to say, "Let none of us suffers as a murderer, or a thief, or a wrong-doer, or a mischief-maker". Sufferings like this have no spiritual benefits. It leads to damnation.

So, if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but under that name let him glorify God.

It was on this note that Jesus prayed for those of us whom God has chosen to become His followers, saying
"I am praying for them; I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours; all mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. And now I am no more in the world, but they are in the world, but not of the world, glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you".

Jesus is an empathizer, He empathizes with us because He suffered unjustly, so He knows how cruel the world is, and He prayed for our safety in this world.

Therefore, let us believe with great hope that Jesus' prayer for us today will benefit us to eternity.

Peace✌be with you.

Rev. Fr. Segun Oladeji, CRS.

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