Why so much suffering?

During the months of July and August last year, I remember hearing that while we were enjoying the summer weather, throughout the southern hemisphere, people were suffering terribly because there was a particularly virulent strain of the flu.  A few months later, it seems that the tables have turned.  There are reports all across North America of people who are suffering from the flu and this strain is particularly stubborn.  It seems to debilitate everyone, confining those who normally are fit and full of life to their beds ... and what about those who are elderly, fragile and already unwell?

At some point in life, young children and adults alike will ask: why is there so much suffering in the world?  Why are some people born into the lap of luxury while others know nothing but poverty?  Why do some people live well into their 90s and even past the age of 100 years while others die so young?  If God is all-powerful, and we are beloved children, why is there so much suffering in the world?

In the gospel passage we have just heard, Jesus meets Simon’s mother-in-law.  She is in bed with a fever (Mk 1:30).  Saint Mark tells us that they told Jesus about her at once.  After all, they had seen him cure so many others; why not ask him to cure someone who was known to them, close to them, loved by them?  Jesus came and took her by the hand and lifted her up; then the fever left her ... (Mk 1:31)  All they had to do was ask, and he immediately tended to the situation: he came to her, he took her by the hand and he lifted her up.  This is what our God does for all of us as well.  When we are feeling sick, when we are weak and have to rely on others, all we have to do is ask Jesus to help us.  He will always come to us, he will always hold us by the hand and he will always lift us up out of our suffering.

During his life on earth, the scriptures recount many occasions when Jesus encountered suffering: he never managed to put an end to suffering; he didn’t cure all the people who were sick; he didn’t take away the trials of every person who was poor; there are still people in our world who are misunderstood and there are still many who are cast aside, forgotten and abandoned.  No human being ever wants to admit that we are weak, but if we were constantly fit, able-bodied and strong, I think that we would be tempted to forget about Jesus; instead, we would be tempted to think that we don’t need God.

The stories of those who were cured by Jesus should inspire all of us to believe that he wants to cure all those who are suffering.  He wants to be close to us, he wants to take us by the hand, he wants to lift us up.  When we confined to bed because of illness, fragility or age, we can always call out to Jesus, and he will always come to our help.  When we are aware of others who are suffering, we can ask Jesus to be close to them.

There will always be questions for which we cannot find any suitable answers.  Whenever we do, we can always pray, share our concerns with our God.  He is always near.