Suffering

As Jesus entered his final week before his vicarious death and victorious resurrection, he must have had deep, mixed feelings. As he entered Jerusalem the crowds cheered, proclaiming him King! Their Messiah. The one who would rescue them. A few short days later they would clamour for his execution! The week would hold much suffering and sorrow.

As we enter this week, there are many who suffer deep sorrow around us. For some life is unbearable. Some face the immanent consequences of incurable diseases. Some despair of life and choose to end theirs violently and prematurely. Others suffer in silence.

My prayer is that we all would be able to experience the final section of the following reading from Psalm 31.

Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am in distress;
my eyes grow weak with sorrow,
my soul and body with grief.
My life is consumed by anguish
and my years by groaning;
my strength fails because of my affliction,
and my bones grow weak.

Because of all my enemies,
I am the utter contempt of my neighbors
and an object of dread to my closest friends –
those who see me on the street flee from me.
I am forgotten as though I were dead;
I have become like broken pottery.
For I hear many whispering,
“Terror on every side!”
They conspire against me
and plot to take my life

But I trust in you, Lord;
I say, “You are my God.”
My times are in your hands;
deliver me from the hands of my enemies,
from those who pursue me.
Let your face shine on your servant;
save me in your unfailing love. (Psalm 31:9-16)