Homily For The 22nd Sunday In The Ordinary Time Year A, August 3, 2026.
“Whatever troubles may be before you, accept them cheerfully, remembering who you are trying to follow.”
–St. Mary MacKillop
Sunday Reading
Pain and Suffering: Embracing the Cross Through Faith in Christ
My Dearest Friends in Christ
May the peace of Christ, Who willingly embraced suffering to save us from sin and death, inspire us to accept our own suffering and take up our crosses through the power of His Word, which gives strength and direction to our lives.
Pain and Suffering: A Reality of Human Existence
In my book, Pain: A Reality of Human Existence (2006), I stated clearly that although human beings do everything possible to avoid pain and suffering, they remain a vital part of human life. They bring out both the best and the worst in us. Suffering can become salvific when, as Christians, we understand it as an opportunity for growth that calls forth moral virtues such as patience, endurance, fortitude, and courage.
Anyone who has experienced pain or suffering can better understand why Peter reacted as he did to Jesus: “God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you.” His reaction was human and perhaps motivated by love, because suffering is not an experience anyone would desire for another person. Yet Christ’s response to Peter appears unwelcoming. Still, it reveals the fullness of the Divine intention and Christ’s salvific mission, which redefine our Christian understanding and attitude toward suffering.
Jeremiah’s Lament: The Call to Never Give Up
Jeremiah, in the First Reading, laments that the Word of the Lord has brought him derision and reproach all day. His lament reveals the turmoil he was experiencing within himself. He had not wanted the prophetic mission in the first place (Jer. 1:6) and claimed that the Lord had seduced him into it (Jer. 20:7). His own family and friends had turned against him (Jer. 11:19, 21). He found himself alone, unable to enjoy good times (Jer. 15:17). He even wished that he had never been born (Jer. 20:14–18). He felt like giving up preaching because of the persecution and suffering he endured for the sake of his prophetic vocation.
Yet he realized that his mission to condemn the idolatry of his generation and bring people back to God burned within him like a fire. We often quit when we can no longer stand the heat of the fire in our Christian vocations. We give up easily when suffering becomes unbearable in our estimation or experience. We surrender courage, endurance, and patience. Do we still pray for fortitude? Do we still believe that God does not abandon those who suffer for the sake of righteousness? God promised Jeremiah His abiding presence and never abandoned him.
“He will never let the trial surpass the strength He gives you, and at the very moment you think yourself overwhelmed by sorrow, He will lift you and give you peace.” –St. Rose Philippine Duchesne
Many evils are happening in our society because people no longer want to face persecution as Jeremiah did. We all desire pleasure and comfort, and that is why we have sometimes sacrificed the Cross of Christ for the pleasures of the world. If Jeremiah had abandoned his prophetic calling because of persecution and suffering, what might have become of the people he was called to bring back to God? When there is no moral voice willing to condemn evil, evil can become institutionalized and endemic.
Jesus Embraced Suffering to Give Us New Life
In the Gospel, Jesus revealed His mission of suffering and death for humanity’s salvation from sin and death. He called Peter “Satan” because Peter, though unwittingly, opposed Jesus’ suffering and death and became an obstacle to His mission. It was a strong rebuke, but it was entirely appropriate. Jesus told Peter to get behind Him.
Origen, a theologian who died in 254 AD, suggested that Jesus was saying to Peter: “Peter, your place is behind me, not in front of me. It is your place to follow me in the way I choose, not to try to lead me in the way you would like me to go.” –Barclay
Like any other human being, Peter did not understand why Jesus had to suffer. Why did Jesus choose the path of suffering to redeem humanity when He could have used another means? Jesus was not merely sympathetic toward the misery and decadence brought about by sin. As one Father of the Church taught, it was fitting that Jesus identify with human nature in order to redeem it. Therefore, He embraced human suffering to pay the price for our sins. Hence, by His wounds, we were healed (cf. Isaiah 53:5).
Jesus transformed human suffering into something salvific. He teaches that discipleship comes with a cost: a cross marked by trials and troubles, as we see in Jeremiah 20:7–13. Are you ready to deny yourself and embrace the cross?
“Never forget that the road to Heaven is the Way of the Cross. Jesus has called us to follow Him, bearing the Cross as He did.” –St. Rose Philippine Duchesne
Self-Denial: The Christian Way to Freedom, Salvation, and Life
Denying self is not the same as self-denial. We practice self-denial when, for a good purpose, we occasionally give up certain things or activities. But we deny ourselves when we surrender ourselves to Christ and remain determined to obey His will.
Human nature wants to indulge self, not deny self. Death to self is always difficult, and if we expect it to be pleasant or mild, we will often become disillusioned. Death to self is a radical command of the Christian life. To take up your cross meant one thing: you were going to die a certain death, and your only hope was in the power of resurrection.
We Must Not Avoid Suffering at All Costs
For Christians, suffering and pain are not realities to be avoided at all costs, even though they are undesirable. Rather, when suffering comes, we can embrace it with faith and love for God and others. Many have given their lives for others, as did Maximilian Kolbe. Many go hungry so that others can eat. Many leaders deprive themselves of luxuries to provide for their citizens. Suffering can be willingly embraced when it becomes an expression of service and love. When we pursue pleasure selfishly, we can end up starving others to fill our own pockets.
Avoiding the walk to death with Jesus may mean gaining the whole world and eventually losing everything. Amazingly, those who live by following Jesus are the ones who discover happiness. Giving our lives completely to Jesus and living as other-centered people does not diminish our lives; it gives them deeper meaning and purpose.
Conclusion: Embrace the Cross and Follow Christ
May you never conform yourselves to this age, but be transformed by the renewal of your minds, knowing that God’s will is that we follow Him faithfully along the path of the Cross.
May God give us the grace to embrace our crosses and sufferings for His sake and for the sake of others. May we remain faithful through every trial and, at the end of this earthly life, gain eternal happiness in Heaven.
I keep you and your family always in my prayers. ©Clem C. Aladi (2026)