RBWords

     Vicarious suffering is not popular.  Why should someone suffer for the sake of another?  Indeed, do we not want to eliminate human suffering altogether?  We do applaud heroic suffering for the sake of a great cause.  This is institutionalized in our country in the system of hospitals we maintain for military veterans!  But to suffer because someone else made a mistake?  That is not what our culture appreciates.  Yet, the most common symbol of our faith is a crucifix with the body of Jesus hanging on it!  This image is the image of vicarious suffering, and it reminds us that Jesus Christ suffered and died for US.

     Beginning with Palm Sunday, I have been calling attention to the scriptures from Isaiah that refer to a "suffering servant."  These scriptures really culminate in the passage that appears in today's service.   The image that appears is a somber and majestic one, but it is eerily descriptive of Jesus' suffering and death even though written hundreds of years before the event!  I recommend reading it on one's own today with a crucifix available to see.  Then the Passion according to John will truly work its power within us.  We do not have to watch the gory spectacle of Mel Gibson's film, THE PASSION.  We simply need to recognize the meaning of what Jesus did and does.  He suffered and suffers for us.  AMEN