April 9, 2009
Holy Thursday Morning Prayer
Hebrews 2:9b-10
Suffering! It’s something that we all try to avoid. And yet, Holy Week Liturgies constantly remind us of the suffering endured by our Savior for us. There is something very sobering in the message, that, as Paul says:   “God, for whom and through whom all things exist, should make their leader in the work of salvation perfect through suffering”.Â
And yet, right up until the very end of his life Jesus was a very happy person, just living life to the fullest. He is depicted as very social, and part of a crowd. He accepted everyone, loved greatly, and was loved by his disciples.Â
It’s just that Jesus got it- the need to do the Father’s will, even when the going got tough. So Jesus preached repentence, and the Kingdom of God.  We are all called to do the same, live the life we’ve been given- happily, but hang in there when the going gets tough and shoulder our share of the sufferings that entails.Â
In today’s world, a world of economic uncertainty, with many folks out of a job, many losing financial security, illnesses, older parents, and all kinds of trials that’s what our lives entail- living cheerfully and accepting the cross we’ve been given, whatever it is. Why? So that we are made perfect through suffering, and brought to glory through Jesus Christ.Â