Schools seek to achieve a great deal of perfection and quality…
>> Excellence in Education…..
>> Superiority in Sports…
>> Class in Character…
>> Eminence in Everything!

In this process…the School also conducts various examinations & tests & exercises….
… to filter the quality, to achieve higher results & to bring out the best….
>> Some fail…
>> Some just manage to pass…
>> Some succeed with flying colours.

We have all gone through this schooling process in our childhood days.

But Life…especially Christian Life, makes us students of a ‘particular’ school…whose term lasts for life-long!!
>> This school… is the School of Suffering!

Wait a minute….

Do we already see some people telling in their minds and whispering a thought on their lips…
>> “Oh, come on.. not again a reflection on pain and suffering”..
>> “Give us something pleasant on a Sunday morning”…
>> “We know God likes to be with us in suffering, but we are tired of listening to the same old groans and tales of pain!”

It’s a tough school, right?
>> It’s an avoided school, right?
>> It’s a “wish-it-was-not-there” school, right?

But it’s a reality….
>> As Christians… we are all enrolled in this Grace-filled “School of Suffering”!

The Gospel of the Day is a gentle reminder by the Lord that as His Followers, we need to be willing to be trained in the “school of suffering” and be committed to Jesus, Who is our model on the Way of the Cross. 

The Gospel passage begins with Jesus enquiring what people felt about Him:
“Who do the crowds say that I am?” (Lk 9: 18)

The world declared its opinion..
>> Jesus was a great person like one of the prophets and was acclaimed as a Wonderful Man!

Then, Jesus sought an opinion to know how His disciples felt about Him:
“Who do you say that I am?” (Lk 9:20)

The Heavens declared its opinion…
Jesus was the Christ, the Son of the Living God and was acclaimed as an Awesome God!

Many times, most of us are just satisfied and contented with these two understandings of Jesus….
>> Jesus as a Wonderful Person…..and Jesus as an Awesome God!

But the Gospel of the Day goes on to present the opinion and the understanding of Jesus Himself…
>> He declares Himself as the Lord and Saviour, who would suffer many things and be killed and raised on the third day!

>> Jesus is not just a wonderful person…an exemplary human…a compassionate individual…a good personality…
>> Jesus is not just a marvelous God…an astounding Lord… a Merciful Saviour…. a benevolent Master…

But He is also the Suffering Servant… …the Persecuted Preacher…the Crucified Consoler…the Rejected Redeemer!

Many times, we are unable to digest this “dimension” of the Life of Jesus…
… A suffering Jesus!
… A Crucified Jesus!

In the Gospel of St Matthew, we see Peter who was unable to accept this suffering dimension of Jesus…
.. and he would react: “God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you!” (Mt 16: 22)

The mentioning of Suffering, Cross and Death became a great scandal for Peter…
… He never expected nor wanted nor accepted that His Beloved Master would go through the School of Suffering!

But Jesus was clear and crisp in His convictions:
” You are not thinking as God does, but as humans do!” (Mt 16: 23b)

Jesus wanted Peter and the other disciples and each one of us to know and digest this seemingly “bitter” truth…
>> Lukewarmness and Slackness may help you slid through, to win you certificates in the School of Comforts..
.. but, Patient Endurance and Unreserved Commitment alone win will laurels in the School of Suffering!

>> Cheating and Short Cuts will ease you through to gain many trophies in the School of Comforts…
.. but, Authentic Dedication and Staunch Loyalty only will succeed in the School of Suffering!

>> Reputation and Popularity will win you many successes in the School of Comforts….
… but, Faithfulness to God will be ultimately tested only in the School of Suffering!

The true Follower of Christ…will have to deny oneself and take up the Cross. (Lk 9: 23)

Every School seeks to achieve a great deal of perfection and quality…

The School of Suffering too, which is the Christian Way of Life…
… also seeks to make us perfect and valuable…
>> Holy in Deeds….
>> Pleasing to God…
>> Eminent in Purity!
>> Sanctified in Words…
>> Worthy of Eternal Life…

>> The School of Suffering…is a tough school…but there is much joy and satisfaction!
>> The School of Suffering…is an avoided school…but there is immense value and treasure stored!
>> The School of Suffering…is a “wish-it-was-not-there” school… but there is plenty of grace and blessings within!

Let us win the Greatest Prizes of Holiness, Saintliness, Happiness and Eternal Life…
… by becoming the wonderful students of this School of Suffering!

Our Great Mentor and Master and Teacher and Tutor – Jesus – is in perfect charge of this School of Suffering..

Let’s not be afraid… let’s not be dismayed.!
>> Instead, let us be encouraged… let us be enthusiastic!

>> The rationalist says:
“Give me Christ without the cross.”

>> The ritualist says:
“Give me the cross without the Christ.”

>> But the Redeemed says:
“A Cross-less Christ, my Savior could not be;
A Christ-less Cross, no refuge is for me
But Oh, Christ crucified, I rest on Thee”

God Bless! Live Jesus!

– Fr Jijo Manjackal MSFS
  Bengaluru, India