30th Week in Ord. Time, Tuesday – 31st October 2023 – Romans 8,18-25; Lk 13,18-21
Hope for Sufferers
In the first reading, Paul speaks about the future realization of God’s design not only for Christians but for the whole of the created world. He begins by saying that no matter how much we may suffer in this life, it is nothing compared to the future glory which will be made known to us. It is a moment of final judgement when those in Christ will be glorified and it will become impossible to deny that we are God’s children. God’s righteousness, and our faith in Him, will be vindicated to the world. Like man, the creation is also suffering now and it will be glorified finally. It’s a future time when God will make all things right and that all nature is eagerly looking forward to that day. Paul’s thinking is that the material world, originally created for Man, shares his destiny. After the sin in the Garden, the material world was also cursed (Gen 3,17). Now, the material world is deformed, impotent and decadent. However, like man’s body, it is destined one day to be redeemed, restored and glorified. It will share the same glorious freedom of the children of God. Paul says that all suffering will come to an end for man and creation. They will be made right on that glorious day (Rev 21,1-4).
