The WORD in other words (2021) by Fr. Chito Lorenzo, SVD (Japan)
Saturday 25th Week in Ordinary Time
When feeling unhealthy, some people immediately seek medical attention and treatment; others would rather not know even if their illness is life-threatening. For them, “Ignorance is bliss.”
When Jesus said that the Son of Man was to be handed over to men, the gospel states that its meaning was hidden from the disciples. Was Jesus purposely hiding the meaning so that the disciples would not understand?
I think Jesus’ first words are important: “Pay attention to what I am telling you.” In school, when the teacher tells the class to listen, those who pay attention learn the lesson; those who don’t get low grades. The disciples were being told to pay attention and reflect on what Jesus was saying. But they were so caught up in the praise and honor accorded to Jesus that they could not open their hearts even to the possibility of him suffering in the days to come.
They could not understand, and yet they were afraid to ask. In school, we were afraid to ask even if we did not understand lest we would be ridiculed or scolded. In life, sometimes we are scared to ask about anything we are uncertain about. We are afraid that it might mean exactly what we think it means. And usually, it means that things would be difficult.
When we encounter difficulties, we must always remember that Jesus has conquered sin and death, and glory awaits those who follow Him faithfully. When we are troubled or in pain, let us not be afraid to ask God for the meaning of our suffering. Even if the answer is not given to us immediately, God will provide us with the strength to bear the burden of the cross given to us.
