Hebrews 2:11-18

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Hebrews 2:11-18

11For the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father. For this reason Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters, 12saying, 'I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters, in the midst of the congregation I will praise you.' 13And again, 'I will put my trust in him.' And again, 'Here am I and the children whom God has given me.'
14 Since, therefore, the children share flesh and blood, he himself likewise shared the same things, so that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death. 16For it is clear that he did not come to help angels, but the descendants of Abraham. 17Therefore he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people. 18Because he himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.

Think

In yesterday's sermon given by the rector of the parish where I am blessed to serve as deacon he talked about a friend of his from seminary who had lived in a wilderness of homelessness, addiction, and imprisonment.  Today's reading from Hebrew's ends with the sentence, "Because he himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested."

I pretty regularly get asked the question - why do bad things happen to good people?  If there is a God why wouldn't he make sure that no one suffers?  After all I do teach an Ethics class and I do wear that lovely projection screen around my neck, and my answer is usually God doesn't let bad things happen God gives us free will, after he creates us and loves us he gives us the ability to turn our back on Him.  But I am consistently struggling with this question myself to be honest.  And I say that too.  It seems like children getting shot is more than I can handle.  It seems like people suddenly dying violent and accidental ways can't be right, can it?  And then this chapter comes up and it seems like the suffering is so that we can help others who are suffering, like Jesus suffered so must we all suffer?

No wait that's backwards.  Like we suffer so Christ suffered.  He suffered so that he could understand us more fully, so that he would know how to care for us.

Have you ever tried to be there for a friend who was in a situation which you had no touch stone for?  I have and its virtually impossible to comfort someone if you have no idea what wilderness they are in.  Its like finding someone in the Amazon and offering them a parka because the only wilderness you are familiar with is the Arctic.  I'm not saying that God wants us to suffer, but suffering is part of the human condition which binds us together.  It is something very innately human.  It is the one part of existence which God came to earth to experience.  We don't hear about him getting married, having kids, settling down, having issues with the family business.  I know there are questions about if any of this may have happened (Read the book Holy Blood Holy Grail if you  want to learn some interesting theories about these questions).  But maybe the reason we don't is because those things aren't universal?

I don't know but those are my two cents for the day.

Prayer

Jesus, you suffered on the cross for my sins and the sins of the world.  Help me to remember that my suffering is not unique and that in my weakness I gain strength.  So that I might serve you in others who suffer as I have.  Give me the wisdom to know when and how to help with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Contemplation 

20 minutes centering prayer.
(Found this really cool meditation timer page check it out)
http://www.insightmeditationcenter.org/meditation-timers/