In a commencement address to the 2023 graduating class of Hillsdale College1Imprints, June 2023 Vol 52, No. 6 “The Most Important Decision in Life” by Bishop Robert Barron, their speaker, Bishop Robert Barron of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester asked some of the most provocative and thoughtful questions I have heard in a very long time. He looked at the audience of youthful graduates and asked:
- What kind of soul will you have?
- What kind of person will you be?
- Will you do whatever it takes to get what you want?
- Or will you accept even great suffering to do what is right?
My question today is will you accept suffering, and do what is right in support of God’s Truth?
(Matthew 20:20-23)2NIV New International Version Translations – “Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him. ‘What is it you want?’ he asked. She said, ‘Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.’ ‘You don’t know what you are asking,’ Jesus said to them. ‘Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?’ ‘We can,’ they answered. Jesus said to them, ‘You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.'”
Jesus uses the metaphor again in (Matthew 26:36-39) where he states that those who choose to follow Him must “drink from His cup.” It is a provocative statement, must we suffer to be saved? To know the answer is to first understand the contents of the “cup!” The history of the cup is intertwined with the history of human civilization. Cups have been essential vessels for drinking liquids for thousands of years. The earliest cups were likely made from natural materials such as gourds, shells, and hollowed-out stones. It would be most difficult to drink water without a cup. If we stick with the idea of a metaphor, water is also one of the essentials to life.
Water helps to regulate body temperature, lubricate joints, and protect organs. It aids in the absorption and distribution of nutrients to various tissues and organs. It helps flush out waste providing overall detoxification. It assists in the absorption of nutrients. Our joints would not work if it was not for the fact that water reduces friction and promotes smooth movement. Even mild dehydration can lead to cognitive impairment, affecting concentration, alertness, and memory. One might say that water is as important to humanity as Jesus is to eternal life. Without water, humans would have no real strength or power!
The term “cup” is used metaphorically by Jesus to refer to the suffering and sacrifice He is about to endure. Jesus is alluding to the trials and tribulations He will face, particularly his upcoming crucifixion, which is part of God’s plan for the salvation of humanity. When Jesus asks if the disciples can drink from His cup, He is essentially asking if they are willing to share in his suffering and sacrifice for the sake of the Gospel. This is the same provocative question Bishop Robert Barron asked the graduates sitting before him. It is important to note here that Jesus is to suffer for a purpose, the salvation of humanity. To suffer without purpose because of poor decisions or ignore the “Common Sense” of observation, seems foolish. Jesus, however, suffered for the Gospel. The Gospel does for humanity, the same things that water does. The Gospel regulates daily living, removes waste like sin, wards off cognitive impairment by choosing God’s Truth, and ultimately sustains life, “eternal life.”
The concept of God’s absolute authority over the universe must be our starting position. “The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all” (Psalm 103:19). The Psalms, like many places in Scripture (Psalms 22:28, Isaiah 46:10, Colossians 1:16-17, Daniel 4:35, Ephesians 1:11), establish that the authority controlling our universe is not from humanity, it is the Creator of our very universe. This leads us back to the root of Bishop Barron’s question, of whether we are prepared to suffer to do what is right by God.
(John 7:37-39) – “On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, ‘Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.’ By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.
Jesus is telling us that His cup is filled with His “purpose,” and drinking from it gives you the help of the third part of the Trinity, you remember, God, the Son, and “the Holy Spirit.” Jesus’s cup is also about having a relationship with Him and with the Son of God! It is about trust! While suffering may be an inherent part of the human condition, what we are pondering is whether suffering could also provide opportunities for growth, self-discovery, and understanding of our world and even the purpose of life itself. Do we need suffering to appreciate joy, happiness, and the positive aspects of life? Ethical questions always come forth when discussing the necessity of suffering. For example, suffering, such as those caused by systemic injustices or unnecessary cruelty, is not part of God’s plan. Bishop Barron is merely asking the graduates, are you willing to purposely cause suffering in our world to be called successful by our world or are you willing to pursue the Gospel’s message of Truth even if the world is against you?
And what is the Gospel’s message? God, the creator of the universe, is good and desires a personal relationship with each one of us. Because of our free will, we seek this world and not God’s world. This has separated us from God. To have an intimate relationship with us, God sent His son, Jesus Christ, as a willing sacrifice, to suffer and die for all humanity has done wrong. This incarnate offering of God has made full payment for humanity’s failings. To provide us hope, He conquered death for us, raised Jesus from the dead, and ascended Him into heaven with the assurance that those who believe in this Gospel will enter heaven as well.
The purpose of the Gospel, therefore, is to help us conform to the image of Jesus Himself. There MAY be suffering but it will never be without purpose. When we experience suffering ourselves or witness the suffering of others, it should inspire us to be more compassionate, supportive, and understanding. We should be led to seek God’s Truth in all matters of our world. And when the world is the cause of suffering, it is OK to try to end it. It’s worth noting that advancements in science, medicine, and social systems often began with someone’s compassion for those suffering. Our purpose may be to alleviate unnecessary suffering whenever possible, further highlighting the importance of empathy, understanding, and collective efforts to improve the human experience. We can make a difference in this world!
(John 16:13) – “But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.”
The word used in this passage is the Greek word parakletos, which means “comforter, helper, encourager, or counselor.” “Para” means “to come alongside.” Jesus’s cup and His living water hold the promise that the “Comforter” or “Helper” would come and abide with us forever.
Contemplations
- What is your philosophy on success?
- Ideas to Explore: Do what you need to do, be reliable, always be truthful, educate yourself, and do what is necessary to succeed?
- Do you think the world is at odds with people who profess their faith in Jesus?
- Ideas to Explore: What does history show about the treatment of people who believe in God, in Jesus, in any Creator?
- Do you think that following God’s Truth will lead to suffering?
- Ideas to Explore: Why? Is that an absolute fact?
- How do you respond to suffering when you see it?
- Ideas to Explore: Do you become more generous, more compassionate, more creative to seek a solution, etc.?
- Make a list of the people that, in your mind, served God above all else. Were any of them wealthy or famous?
- Ideas to Explore: Did wealth spawn generosity? Were they famous because they served God or were idolized by our world?
- 1Imprints, June 2023 Vol 52, No. 6 “The Most Important Decision in Life” by Bishop Robert Barron
- 2NIV New International Version Translations