March 18, 2019
Dear Allen Temple Family and Friends,
Our Lenten Series continues this week with the theme of Suffering with Reverend Adumasa Adeyemi.
Blessings to you!
Reverend Dr. Jacqueline A. Thompson
Assistant Pastor
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It isn't what happens to us that causes us to suffer; it's what we say to ourselves about what happens. Pema Chodron
We Are Not Left Alone
“Eli-Eli-Lama-Sabachthani”, that is “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?”(Matt. 27:45). These are the immortal words shouted by Jesus as he dies on the cross. Jesus’ suffering reminds us of what it means to feel forsaken, without help in a desperate situation. Jesus’ death was not only physical but heightened by his feelings of being rejected and discarded; as a human, he cried out in his suffering.
We too cry out in our suffering, it is a part of our lived experience; none of us will escape it. We will all experience some form of pain; it may be personal relationships, physical or financial; it may be societal as in racism, sexism or injustice. My point is not to be pessimistic but to speak of our human existence as did Solomon in Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. I am mindful of a woman grieving the loss of her brother, “His life was not easy and he suffered so long. Chaplain, why does it always have to end like this?” There are no easy answers for these great existential questions.
In the midst of suffering, platitudes, pseudo-empathizing, lesson learners and advice-givers, though well intentioned rings hollow. In the throes of suffering we are often confused, angry, emotional distraught, psychologically exhausted, physically drained and spiritually spent. It is imperative to remember “It isn't what happens to us that cause us to suffer; it's what we say to ourselves about what happens.” It is what we say where our strength comes from, what we say where hope can be found, it is what we say that God is as close as our very breath.
It is in these moments of our suffering that Jesus’ suffering and sacrifice becomes real for those who hold Christ close. In these moments his ransom paid is realized; that our pain is his pain, our suffering is his suffering. In our difficult moments the Spirit of God helps us to see that Jesus was not forsaken, that he was not left alone and that the fret of nihilism is not king and for us there is hope.
The beauty of the Lenten season positions us to receive the Good News of the gospel. During this season there is no need to engage in moralistic behavior, “If I do all the right things in fasting, say the right prayers”; know that Jesus has done all that needs to be done. Lent affords us the opportunity to refocus, to set aside the trivial and unimportant activities in life and to as if myopically with single-mindedness give attention to our suffering in connection with Jesus’ suffering. In Jesus there is victory, there is healing, a way made when there appeared to be none and a way to be present in our suffering and to survive it. Lent prepares us for resurrection Sunday, the celebration of the risen savior. Through fasting, prayers and repentance let it reinforce our walk of faith and sustain us through our many challenges. Let it be the assurance that we are never left alone.
For further contemplation:
• Psalm 22:1-2
• Isaiah 58: 6-11
• Luke 4:18-19
• Mark 1:13
• Matthew 6:5
• For The Inward Journey by Howard Thurman, No One Escapes – The Innocent Ones
Reverend Adumasa Adeyemi is an Acute and Palliative Care chaplain at Kaiser Permanente in Oakland and Richmond. Adumasa is also an Associate Minister at Allen Temple Baptist Church and New Testament instructor with the Leadership Institute at Allen Temple.
