“Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Neither he nor his parents sinned.’  Jesus answered. “He was born blind so that the works of God might be displayed in him.“ (Mark 9:2)

The disciples bring their questions to Jesus. The prevailing idea of the time linked suffering and disability to sin. While we, living in a different time, would not make such an erroneous connection, we also seek answers about life’s mysteries, especially the mystery of suffering. We somehow think that if we could find a “cause-effect” connection, we could be more in control and able to avoid suffering. 

Theologian Sandra Schneiders likens the disciples and their question to “Christians of any time who agonise over the meaning of life’s mysteries, e.g. innocent suffering, and turn to Jesus for enlightenment.” 

Suffering is a place that can block us or open us up more thoroughly in our relationship with God. If we see suffering as something God gives us, it can shut down our capacity to stay open. We question why God doesn’t answer our prayers and instead allows, not prevents, suffering. 

Theologians have used much ink debating God’s relationship to our suffering. What we know from Jesus’s response to the man born blind is that innocent suffering is not connected with sin. Conversely, we can infer that healing is not linked to our virtue or the strength of our prayers.  Somehow suffering is part of life’s journey.  

My dear friend's daughter was born with a profoundly debilitating disease. She is now in her late twenties but will never be able to stand, walk, speak, dress or reason beyond the level of a toddler. My friend and her husband care for her with immense and costly love. My friend always says that her daughter’s illness is part of what she has been given to hold in life and that each of us has or will have our individual suffering to bear. 

We will always need to understand why suffering is integral to our human experience. There are no simple answers. However, I know that witnessing my friend's love and care for her daughter reveals the extraordinary nature of God’s love. 

God stays close to us when we suffer, even in pain and struggle. So we may  echo the words of Jesus on the cross: “God my God, why have you forsaken me.”

Suffering inevitably changes us. It may make us more loving, compassionate, and ready to turn to God. But, on the other hand, it can also make us bitter and hardened, closed to love and life. So our prayer might be to say: “whatever suffering is mine, whether overcome or endured with hope and courage, reveal your glory and accompany me in my passion times, Lord.” 

Gracious loving God, 

I sometimes struggle to make sense of life’s unfairness 

and why bad things happen to good people. 

Help me to find you even in the mystery of suffering. 

In my darkest times, may your glory shine through. 

Amen.