The French Benedictine monk, Herve´ of Burgundy (d. 1150), provides a commentary on 2 Thessalonians 1, 2-9, in which he presents an intriguing answer for the ancient question of why good people suffer:
"We glory 'for your patience and faith' [says St. Paul] because it does not fall off or murmur, but you are patient and serve the Faith 'in all your flights' from one place to another, 'and tribulations', that is, the torments and afflictions imposed upon you in one place, 'which you bear for an example of the just Judgment of God'. As if to say, When you, who do good things, suffer harsh things, you give an example of the just Judgment of God. For it should be understood from the sufferings with which he allows you, in whom he rejoices, to be afflicted, how he will strike those who anger him; or, how he will punish those to whom he shows his just Judgment, if you, whom he piously cherishes, should suffer in this way. We understand from this how he does not spare the wicked from a burning as with cut firewood when he does not spare the just from their perfecting purgation. As Peter said: 'For the time is, that judgment should begin at the house of God' (1 Peter 4, 17). If the Judgment first begins with us, then what will be the end for those who do not believe in the Gospel of God? The affliction of the just is the example of the future Judgment: if these are judged harshly for their light sins, how much more harshly will the wicked be judged for their crimes at the end of the world? Therefore, bear the scourges of the present tribulations so that when you are purged, 'you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God', unto eternal beatitude, into which nothing shall enter that is unclean, for it is unworthy. But you are made worthy, through these afflictions, for that kingdom -- not for human favor, on the one hand, or for some crime, on the other. For your soul seeks nothing from these sufferings but the kingdom of God, and you have committed no crimes for which you should have suffered."
No comments:
Post a Comment