In today’s Gospel, Jesus asks Peter if he loves him three times, once for each time Peter betrayed Jesus during his trial and passion. Then Jesus said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.”
Jesus said to Peter: “Someone else will lead you to where you do not want to go.” Do you ever feel that someone is leading you where you do not want to go in life?
It made me think about the events in my life that I would prefer never happened, the journeys that I did not want to experience. I’m sure that you have some of those too. Even when we are young, things happen to us that make us question Why.
Why did I develop cancer at 35?
Why did my child die at 16?
Why was my brother killed in the line of duty at 22?
Why was my job terminated and we lost everything?
Why did my best friend have a stroke in her sixties and will never recover?
Why? Why God? Why?
We all experience pain and suffering in our lives. Like Peter, each of us must walk a path where we do not want to go. While your path is different from mine, both are similar; we walk the through the trials and suffering that living brings to us.
When terrible things happen to people who are not Christians, it is devastating. Their whole world collapses in around them and they sink into the depths of despair and hopelessness. Some will turn to drugs or alcohol, others will be angry with everyone, some will dive into the depths of despair that they will commit suicide thinking it will solve all their pain and suffering.
When these things happen to Christians, it is still devastating but we have the Hope of the Resurrection to get us through it. Jesus suffered severe pain and agony through the trials of his Passion. Jesus did not want to walk the journey of his Passion. In the garden he prayed “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will, but as you will.”
When we think about the pain and agony that Jesus suffered on his journey to Calvary for our sake, the trials and suffering on our journey of life are insignificant by comparison. That does not mean our lives are any less painful but gives us strength and hope to overcome them.
During this past Lent at the Second Station in the Stations of the Cross, Jesus puts the trials in our journey in life into perspective:
“This cross, this chuck of wood is what my Father chose for me.
The crosses you must bear are largely products of your daily life. And yet my Father chose them, too, for you. Receive them from his hands.
Take heart my other self, I will not let your burdens grow one ounce too heavy for your strength.”
Jesus said he would not let our burdens grow one ounce too heavy for the strength we have each day. Sometimes it seems that the suffering in our lives is overwhelming. Jesus will give us the strength to survive.
Many of the Saints of the Church have shown great patience and endurance through the many trials of life. Saint Joseph the Worker, whom we honor today, and for whom our parish is named, had more trials than most people.
First, Joseph finds out that his betrothed is pregnant. Then he flees to another country to protect his family from death. Living in a country where one does not speak the language or know the customs had to be extremely difficult. Joseph must begin a business as a carpenter to provide for his family. They had to struggle in the beginning to make ends meet.
Then Joseph moves his family back to their homeland to start a business all over again. Patiently enduring each set back and trial that living brings to him, Joseph takes it all in stride because his faith is in God. Joseph knows that God will protect his family and provide for their needs.
St Joseph is a great example for us as to how to live our lives, patiently enduring each setback, patiently enduring each “Why?” in our life.
After Peter professed his love for Jesus three times, Jesus said to Peter, “Follow me.” Peter followed Jesus and it was the turning point for the Church. He led the other disciples to teach multitudes of people to believe in Christ and the Church grew in great numbers.
Jesus calls us to Follow Him too. We follow the Jesus who rose from the dead. We have Hope because of his Resurrection and triumph over death.
We teach those around us about Jesus by how we live our lives as the daily trials and burdens of life bombard us. Like St Joseph, our faith in God helps us overcome the suffering and struggles of daily life.
Our life journey continues to present us with events we prefer not to experience. These are products of our daily lives. Some of these events are because of bad decisions we made in the past. Other events are the same that everyone experiences at some point.
Jesus knew that his passion and death were only the beginning. His resurrection that we celebrate during this Easter Season is victory over death and all the suffering of the world. Jesus followed his Father’s will he calls us to do the same.
When overcome by daily events, it’s difficult to remember that we are living our lives for an eternal reward with our Lord. Jesus said he will give us the strength to overcome these daily events in our lives, and by doing so to show others that Jesus gives us hope even in our daily suffering.
Then Jesus said to Peter “Follow Me.” Jesus calls us too, “Follow Me.”
Will we?
