(Wisdom 1,13-15; 2,23-24; 2 Cor 8,7.9.13-15; Mark 5,21-43, 13th Sunday year B)
Divine intervention in human conditions aimed at alleviating man’s suffering and eradication of his anguish and pain, are all consistent with God’s attribute as a loving father. In today’s first reading, the book of wisdom, tells us that God takes no pleasure in the extinction of the living. On the contrary, His desire is that man may have life in its fullest. Death, pain, deprivation and all that go contrary to the sustenance of life are not God’s original plan for man. Rather, all these came to be on account of that disruption of harmonious relationship with God brought about by man’s rebellion. The Catechism of the Catholic Church explicitly refers to suffering as a consequence of original sin. (cf. CCC 1521)
However, Jesus came to restore the disrupted harmony. He came to bring healing to wounded humanity, cure those thorn apart by all sorts of ailments, heal the broken hearted and deal a final blow to death. In his earthly ministry, he exemplified the healing and restorative dimension of his entire salvific project. The cure of the woman plagued by haemorrhage and the raising of Jairus’ daughter which we read in the Gospel narrative today are just few of the many incidents in the Scripture where the son of God, moved with compassion, set out to make a difference in the pitiable condition of man.
It must be understood, however, that the life and ministry of Christ and his entire project of man’s salvation goes beyond alleviation of corporeal suffering and poor human condition. Jesus was neither a social reformer nor a human activist. The healing and deliverances he performed are all to be understood from a wider perspective of his work of salvation which aimed at restoring man’s eternal harmony with God. That explains why, even without glamourizing suffering, he took to it as a necessary means of redeeming mankind, and transformed its meaning from being a deprivation to becoming an instrument of salvation.
Naturally, man yearns for healing and alleviation of his unpalatable living and social conditions. Many crave for the sort of instant healing and restoration of mortal life as we see in the Gospel today. All around us, we still see suffering and unenviable human conditions. In the face of all that, God remains a loving father who feels our pains and intervenes to save us. We only need to understand that in the whole scheme of divine will which surpasses our understanding, just as God permitted his only son to taste the ignominy of the cross so as to save the world, he often allows unenviable experiences to be our lot that his will may be realized. Therefore, while we cannot stop asking God to make our conditions better, may we also close our eyes and senses to the realization that God in his infinite wisdom may choose to allow some of these conditions to come our way as our own share of the cross of Christ. HappySunday! +John I. Okoye
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