From Suffering to Hope

 originally published on April 16, 2025 for Wisdom's Dwelling newsletter and substack

"From Suffering to Hope"

As we draw closer to Christ’s Passion and Resurrection, we see in the readings the plan of salvation put into motion. Today is traditionally referred to in the Church as “Spy Wednesday”. This is the day that Judas met with the priests who wanted to arrest Jesus. The readings today reflect these themes of suffering and betrayal.

In the first reading from Isaiah, we hear a prophecy of a “suffering servant”. We hear a description of how a man will be mocked and his beard will be plucked. He has been beaten and is weary. We know this servant to be Jesus.

One of the ministries that I have been involved with in my parish is OCIA (formerly RCIA). It is the Church’s process of preparation for those who desire to receive the Sacraments of Initiation at Easter. During the season of Lent, the drama amps up in our liturgy and in our scripture readings, but also for those who are receiving the sacraments very soon.

When I was volunteering with this ministry in my parish and assisting on a team to help develop presentations for those in OCIA, I formed a friendship with one of the deacons in my church. I remember him speaking about today’s first reading. He said that he often woke up in the morning feeling like God had given him “a well trained tongue to speak to the weary”. I was inspired by his confidence. By our baptism, we are all called to give God’s message of love and hope to the world. However, many of us may not feel qualified or trained. We can be assured, though, that if we are spending time with Christ in prayer and participating in the sacraments, we have been given the grace that we need.

This same deacon also often spoke of how as a young Jewish boy, Jesus would have had to learn the scriptures just as young men and women in the Jewish faith do today. When Christ would have read the readings such as today’s first reading from Isaiah, he would have had an inner knowledge that the “suffering servant” mentioned was indeed him. I remember being very struck by that thought.

In my current role as a middle school Theology teacher, my students and I discuss what it means that Jesus is fully God but also fully man. I share with them this thought that the deacon had shared with me. There is much to wrap our minds around if we think about the fact that Jesus was like us in all ways but sin. The human side of Jesus learned things from Mary and Joseph, had friends, had hunger, had fear. We see all of these very human characteristics of Christ revealed in Holy Week.

The psalms also embody a variety of emotions which make them very tangible when praying with scripture. Today’s psalm starts out with the psalmist feeling isolated and insulted because of his faith in God. Similar to the reading from Isaiah, the psalm describes occurrences that will happen to Jesus on Good Friday. The psalmist does not lose hope, however. In spite of his weakness and discouragement, he still recognizes by the end of the psalm that the “Lord hears the poor” and does not spurn those who are near to him.

As we draw close to Triduum, we unite our own sufferings to that of Christ. There are so many times I can relate to the psalmist. I feel persecuted at times by a society that doesn’t always respect the values I have clung to as a Christian. However, also like the psalmist, through my time spent in prayer, I usually come away from my prayer praising God in spite of my distress.

We know that the Resurrection will follow the Crucifixion. This is what gives us hope. May we hold to this hope when we feel betrayed and take solace that we have a God who knows in a very real way our suffering and human experience.

How does it feel to think about Christ reading about himself in the Old Testament writings?

Do you believe that you have a “well-trained tongue” to speak God’s word to others? Why or why not?