Tenth Sunday after Pentecost; the Holy Martyr Callinicus
Read
1 Corinthians 4:9-16; Matthew 17:14-23
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
Why do we suffer? Why do bad things happen to good people? This problem has been wrestled with throughout the centuries, prominently brought up with the story of the Righteous Job and the Suffering Servant (who is Christ- the ultimate answer to suffering in the world.)
Today we see a boy who suffers greatly. Sometimes he is thrown into fire and sometimes into water. St. John Chrysostom teaches that the demons have been trying to destroy him continually, but it was not permitted by the Lord, who uses this encounter to illustrate the lack of faith of His generation. Having brought the boy to Christ’s disciples while He was away, the man witnessed the disciple’s inability to cast out this demon. Their faith was not strong enough.
Many people suffer in this world, and for many reasons. In response to this suffering, where do we put our faith? We know that all things work for the good of those who love the Lord, and we as Christians must have faith in this. Christ may choose to heal us, as he does the boy in this gospel, or He may use our sufferings in another redemptive action in the world, as His sacrifice on the cross redeemed the world. What is required from us is the faith that if we approach Christ with open hands and an open heart, our sufferings will be used for our good and the good of the whole world. Let us offer Him this mustard seed of faith and allow Him to use it as He wishes!