Gospel Reflection for the 14th Sunday of Ordinary Time

9th. July – Come to me when you are suffering

We don’t have look too far to see that there are so many people in our world today suffering. Every day there are countless victims of random and senseless acts of terrorism. Many are dying and suffering because of famine and drought. Sadly these situations are now a feature of our world today. But in our own daily lives, each of us experience pain, difficulty and suffering. This comes in many forms; ill-health, bad news from the doctor, long term unemployment, a long standing family problem and many other seemingly ordinary experiences we each have every day. We can often believe or assume that we can or should be able to cope on our own when we experience these or similar difficulties. This is a mistake. We don’t have to cope on our own and more importantly we can’t.

In our gospel this Sunday Jesus promises to be with us no matter what we are experiencing; ‘Come to me all you who labour and overburdened, and I will give you rest.’ Jesus asks us not to pretend to be strong and self-sufficient. Jesus asks us to have the wisdom, courage and humility to reach and ask for his help. This is what the woman who was sick did when she actually reached out and touched Jesus. She did this in faith, hope and humility. It was a sign and gesture of faith on her part, not weakness.

Trusting in Jesus and turning to him in faith when we are struggling does not take away our pain magically or automatically. Jesus does not save us from our pain or human condition; Jesus saves us in and through our pain and human condition. Jesus is with us when we are struggling and experiencing difficulties. The invitation from Jesus is that we turn to him when we need help. Having faith in Jesus is about building and maintaining a relationship with him. This takes time; it takes a lifetime. This calls for prayer, patience and perseverance and on our part. Jesus promises to be with us for all time; can we make an attempt to build and maintain this personal and intimate relationship which Jesus wants to have with us?

This week, let us keep in our prayers all those we know who labour and are overburdened. We remember those who are suffering in our families, our community and the wider world. May they know that they are not alone in their difficulties and that we and Jesus are with them by their side, now and always.

• Michael Moore OMI