It isn't uncommon for me to talk with people who have been through hard times. It happens more often when I'm wearing my black clerical clothes. Something about walking into a public place and being seen as a minister. It's especially common if I go to visit someone in the hospital. Other people come up to me and want to tell me things. That's fine.
One of the recurring themes is that people are suffering. It isn't surprising. We confess we are in a world living under a curse. But how do we deal with that suffering? In our Romans reading for today, the portion from chapter 12 is especially instructive. Here our Lord tells us what to do when we are enduring suffering. And we find that we are told to act in the opposite way from our inclination. When someone does evil to us we respond with good. When we think we're important, we associate with the humble. We care for those around us, no matter what they do to us.
Who is the one who will bring justice? It is the Lord. We see that throughout our reading today. It is our job to trust that He will take care of all of creation. Let us then look to our Lord in trust and do good for our enemies, praying for them.
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