Joy in Suffering

A Reflection on the First Reading for Sunday, May 4th, 2025:
Third Sunday of Easter

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Acts
​5.28-32, 40b-41
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In those days: The high priest questioned the Apostles, saying, “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you are determined to bring this man’s blood on us.”

But Peter and the Apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than human beings. The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Saviour that he might give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.”

Then the council ordered the Apostles not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. As they left the council, they rejoiced that they were considered worthy to suffer dishonour for the sake of the name.

Pause. Pray. Reflect.

I am struck by the joy the Apostles experienced when deemed worthy to suffer for the name of Jesus. Reflecting on the times within which this was written, “suffer” has a completely different meaning from the minor discomfort I may experience for the name today. In those times, thousands had responded to the teachings of the Apostles and suffering often meant violent death. My humanness struggles to accept finding joy in that possibility.

The dictionary defines joy as “a feeling of great pleasure and happiness.”  Our Christian belief tells us that joy is not a feeling… it’s a choice to love God and His promise of eternal life. I have had moments of perfect emotional joy in my mortal life, and while I am grateful for those, they have indeed passed as feelings tend to do. I have also had moments of profound peace in the midst of storms, and I understand now with the passing of time that those moments were only possible because of being deeply rooted in the love of God.

But am I rooted enough to suffer in the name? The answer is I believe that I am rooted, but I am also cowardly. 

I am in awe of people I know who live their Christianity aloud and have seen the fruit of their lived example when they bring others to Christ. I know I allow myself to be His vessel when I am safely working in ministry, but my fear of being humiliated often results in my decision to stay silent when presented with opportunities in the everyday marketplace of my life. I hesitate to share the source of my joy as being the love of God and to invite others to meet Him. Jesus died for me; many of the Apostles and others became martyrs who died for their faith – and I hide behind a fear of humiliation. 

I recently took one small step and taped a Litany of Humility on my desk at work, out in the open for all to see and, just as importantly, for me to see and pray every morning when I arrive at work. 

I pray that I will have the humility and courage to embrace the joy of standing in the name of Jesus, not just silently but with word and deed, actively bringing His light to any environment I find myself in. He has placed me in specific places at this specific time to do just that, and though I may be taunted and ridiculed, His promise of eternal life means the joy of His love will surpass any fleeting moments of suffering. 

Let us pray: Father God, thank You for Your promise of eternal life, and for entrusting me with the responsibility of bringing others to You. Deliver me from the fear of being humiliated. Help me to always remember that it is a joy to suffer for Your name, and that any weight of human suffering will always be overcome by that promise of eternal life. Amen.




Sandy Graves

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