Homily: Janaury 14,2025, Tuesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time (Suffering Bakhita)

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"For it was fitting that he, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the leader to their salvation perfect through suffering."

God is infinite, omnipotent, all-powerful. He has countless ways to save humanity and bring us back to glory. Yet, He chose the path of suffering. Why?

Theologians have offered many profound explanations, but to be honest, I haven’t seen an answer that fully satisfies this mystery. However, simply by looking at the lives of the saints, I see glimpses of God’s wisdom and understand a bit more the mystery of grace amidst and through suffering.

One of my favorite saints is St. Josephine Bakhita, the Sudanese saint. She was born in 1869, a daughter of the tribal chief, and her early childhood was comfortable, free and happy. But at the young age of 7, she was kidnapped by Muslim traders and lost forever, the carefree life she was born into.

This little girl, who also lost the name given by her parents, was forced to walk 600 miles barefoot when she was kidnapped. She was then sold into slavery not once, but more than 12 times, thus impossible for her family to ever find her again. She suffered and endured severe and cruel beatings from her masters, which left her with 144 scars on her body. She couldn’t understand why her life had changed drastically and suddenly, and she did not know how to get out.

Eventually, she was bought by an Italian family, the first masters who did not abuse her. They brought her along with them to Venice, Italy, where she was put up with a convent while the family traveled. And it was in that convent that she first learned about Jesus.

Bakhita was so moved to hear about a mighty Savior who also suffered tremendously, who endured beatings, rejection, and unimaginable pain, not for Himself but for the world, and for her personally. She felt a deep and intimate connection with Jesus. She eventually stayed on in the convent, became a nun and, later, was canonized a saint.

One of her most profound statements was, "I unconditionally forgive all those who tortured me and caused me harm, because without them, I would not have come to know Christ."

I still cannot understand why we have to suffer, why Jesus did not escape suffering, but from Bakhita’s life, I understood what suffering can do for us. God’s ways are mysterious but not without merit. His ways are unexplainable but never unreasonable.

Bakhita’s life, more so her forgiveness, is a powerful testimony of faith and grace.

Sin is the cause of suffering; it is necessary therefore to enter the world of suffering to pull out souls entrenched in it. Thus, Jesus embraced the cross.

In the hardest and darkest moments of our lives, let us unite our sufferings with Jesus, cling on to Him tightly, so that we can also rise through to heaven with Him.

Amen.


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