Seeds of Suffering

A Reflection on the Second Reading for Sunday, July 16th, 2023:
Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

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Romans
8.18-23​

Brothers and sisters: I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God; for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and will obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labour pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.

Pause. Pray. Reflect

Once again I am struck by the beauty of the Church, our mother and teacher! Reader, notice with me that this Sunday, in the midst of a first reading, psalm, and Gospel all centred on the theme of “seeds,” we get this second reading from Saint Paul to the Romans about suffering. Saint Paul says, “I consider that the sufferings of this time are not worth compared with the glory about to be revealed in us.” Was the placement of this second reading a mistake? They couldn’t find any New Testament Scriptures that would further develop the theme? That can’t be, since everything that the liturgy brings to us is filled with intention and meaning. Let’s dive into this one, then. 

In my meditation with this, what the Church is bringing us is the notion of suffering as a seed in our spiritual lives. What is so deep and poignant about the image of seeds is that even while a seed is so small and humble, it contains within it the potential for all that it will become. An acorn that will become a tree already holds that essence, that substance, of the great oak to come. In what way is suffering similar to a seed? Suffering would be nothing but displeasure if it did not lead to something higher. Consider, though, that it is in our suffering that we are united to Christ’s death on the cross – in the way we pick up our cross every day to follow the Crucified One. And our faith holds that as we participate in His death, we will also share in His resurrection. This is surely a reality for eternal salvation, since we trust that Christ’s sacrifice opens the door for us to eternal life after death. 


But, importantly, we also believe that we will begin to experience the goodness, beauty, and truth of God – we will begin to experience Heaven – even in the land of the living. In this sense, suffering is a seed of fruitfulness both in this world and the next. It does not mean that we should go looking for suffering. God has made us good and does not desire our suffering, but since we live with the consequences of original sin in this world, trials and suffering will be a guaranteed part of this life. We have a decision to make, then, about how we bear them. The saints and spiritual masters through the centuries have taught us the mystery that suffering is the very place where we can grow the most. There, the virtues of faith, hope, and charity are cultivated as we long for God’s closeness and help. When the veil of pain is pulled over our understanding, only then can we begin to experience peace which surpasses all understanding. 

So let us follow the liturgy’s prompting this week, making our hearts good soil for this seed of suffering. In faith, we know that God does not give us anything that will not turn out for the good. Charity… that virtue of dwelling in the heart of God… charity will be our consolation, and a reminder of the other-centredness and the missionary impulse that breathes life into the darkest times. And finally, hope leads us to remember the glories that we are confident will be revealed.




Sr. Angela Burnham

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