WE JOURNEY TOGETHER
The mission of
Jesus was an arduous one, requiring suffering and death, but Jesus eagerly
looked forward to its completion.
The Gospel's
portray the story of Jesus Christ's earthly ministry. He is on a relentless
journey toward Jerusalem, for it is there that through His death and
Resurrection He would achieve the salvation of the world. The mission of Jesus
was an arduous one, requiring suffering and death, but Jesus eagerly looked
forward to its completion. He struggled with and overcame any reluctance
because He was filled with a sense of purpose.
Job, on the other
hand, feels that he already has two strikes against him. He is so miserable in
his misfortunes that he's tempted to go on strike against God. He is near
despair because he can see no reason or purpose for his sufferings. It is only
through a desperate and blind act of faith that he continues to cling to God. Through
all his pain, Job never lets go of God!
At some point in
time, we all come close to feeling like Job. Why was I born? Why should I live?
Our happiness and our hopes are dashed to the ground by an accident that harms
a family member, by a killing disease that hits us, or by the desertion of a
spouse. These things make us cry out like the Lord, "My God, My God, why
have You forsaken Me" (Mk 15:34; Mt 27:46)? These are the true crosses on
our journey with Christ Jesus; we do not choose these situations in life, they
just come upon us.
The suffering and
death of Jesus came about not because He wanted them but because His life and
teaching had aroused hatred and ill will with others at times. But He stayed on
the course for He had a purpose to fulfill - the mission that God put in front
of Him. We have a purpose in each of our individual lives that we need to
fulfill for God and the goodness of His Kingdom. But our destiny will not be
fulfilled in our earthly life. It will be fulfilled with Jesus in the heavenly
Jerusalem in union with His Father - our Father - Who will grant us the gift of
everlasting life.
Spend some time
today savoring the words and struggles with the meaning of Scripture!