Recognizing God in the Midst of Suffering

Apr 25, 2023

In this week’s gospel reading, two disciples meet a stranger and describe the death of Jesus and rumors of his resurrection. But they don’t just say, “Yeah this man from Nazareth was killed by the Romans and his body disappeared” but they say, “...we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel.”

In that one line, the heartbreak and disappointment of Jesus’ death becomes clear. The stranger then calls out the disciples for their despair: “Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared!” But the disciples, instead of getting offended, invite the stranger to eat, and when they are breaking bread their eyes suddenly recognize Jesus, who disappears.

Grief and despair impact how we see the world. It can make friends unrecognizable and loved ones feel like strangers. Grief and despair are not simply feelings but they influence our perception of each other, the world, and God. The disciples were grieving. Their whole world had fallen apart. They were hurting and confused. And these disciples hadn’t experienced the risen Christ. Instead, they were left with the reality of a dead Messiah and confusing rumors about what may have occurred to Jesus’ body.

It isn’t until they meet a stranger who reminds them of their hope and who joins them in a meal, that the grief that clouded their eyes is able to dissipate just enough for them to recognize the stranger before them, was actually their beloved Messiah.

For me, as I explore this text, two things come to mind: 1) the answer to the common question: “Where is God when we are suffering” and 2) the rise of another question: are we able to recognize God’s presence when we are suffering?

This passage reiterates the fact that when we are suffering when we are grieving, God’s place is journeying with us. God walks and breaks bread with us as we navigate our grief. God’s place when we are suffering is right alongside us. The question when we are in the midst of despair is not where is God because God is with us, but the question is, are we able to recognize God’s presence in the midst of our suffering?

There is a lot to despair about in this world: the rise of individuals and groups that want to strip people of reproductive rights, that wish to eradicate trans and queer people, and whose racism leads to the death of Black and brown people.

Not to mention the increased economic stability, the disasters caused by climate change, and wars from Ukraine, to Sudan, Yemen, and Syria. There is a lot to grieve in this world: from large-scale disasters-both humanmade and natural that lead to the deaths of thousands to the shattering of individual hopes and dreams.

Like the disciples on the way to Emmaus, we understandably find ourselves feeling lost, disenchanted, and heartbroken. As Christians and resurrection people we believe in a God who defeats death and yet can’t help but occasionally say, “But we had hoped that he would be the one to redeem” our hurting world. Our grief and despair: which are understandable and justified reactions to a world that is constantly hurting, make it difficult for us to see the God who is with us.

And listen, this sermon does NOT endorse toxic positivity. The reality is that there is a lot in the world to be angry and sad about and pretending that everything is ok does no one any good, especially those who are on the receiving end of various forms of state and institutional oppression.

But as a resurrection people we are called to push back against the tendency to despair. We are called to both acknowledge and be realistic about the suffering in the world and open our eyes to the ways in which God is working and is calling us to join them in their work.

For instance, I see God in the work that is being done to end the death penalty. People across the theological and political spectrum are standing together to call an end for state-sanctioned murder. And while the process is long and frustrating with stops and starts, I see God in the actions of the community organizers trying to get people mobilized, I see God in the religious leaders publicly speaking out against the death penalty, I see God in the prisoners who still hold onto hope even after having spent decades on death row for a crime they did not commit.

I see God in the drag queen shows and brunches, especially in states that are trying to silence queer and trans people. I see God in the venues that host drag queen shows and brunches; who are taking a stand against queerphobia and who seek to provide a safe space for queer people. I see God in the drag performers who call us to unapologetically embrace ourselves, have fun, and break free of the gender norms that seek to imprison us.

I see God in the queer, nonbinary, and trans pastors who are courageously following God’s calling for their lives and who are forcing the Institutional church to reckon with their refusal to obey God’s command to love and embrace all.

I see God in the prophetic voices calling society and the church to task for their hypocrisy. After all, how can an institution claim to follow a God who came to earth in the form of a poor carpenter and yet shut its eyes and ears to the suffering of the poor?

I see God in those who continually say yes to love and no to a culture of death and fear.

I see God in those who answer God’s calling to advocate for a just world in whatever capacity they can.

God is all around us, journeying with us on this path of despair and grief. And God is desperate to show us that we are not alone. That there are hundreds, even thousands of others who are advocating for a world based on justice and equality. And each of those people, working in their small ways to create a better world, are the embodiment of God’s love.

God is with us. God is all around us. Can we see God?

Image: empty road. Text: God’s place when we are suffering is right alongside us.

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