He Knows What You're Going Through

First Reading: Isaiah 53:10-11

The LORD was pleased
to crush him in infirmity.

If he gives his life as an offering for sin,
he shall see his descendants in a long life,
and the will of the LORD shall be accomplished through him.

Because of his affliction
he shall see the light in fullness
of days;
through his suffering, my servant shall justify many,
and their guilt he shall bear.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 33:4-5, 18-19, 20, 22

R. (22) Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.

Upright is the word of the LORD,
and all his works are trustworthy.
He loves justice and right;
of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full.

R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.

See, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him,
upon those who hope for his kindness,
To deliver them from death
and preserve them in spite of famine.

R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.

Our soul waits for the LORD,
who is our help and our shield.
May your kindness, O LORD, be upon us
who have put our hope in you.

R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in you.

Second Reading: Hebrews 4:14-16

Brothers and sisters:
Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens,
Jesus, the Son of God,
let us hold fast to our confession.
For we do not have a high priest
who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses,
but one who has similarly been tested in every way,
yet without sin.
So let us confidently approach the throne of grace
to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help.

Gospel: Mark 10:35-45

James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus and said to him,
"Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you."
He replied, "What do you wish me to do for you?"
They answered him, "Grant that in your glory
we may sit one at your right and the other at your left."
Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking.
Can you drink the cup that I drink
or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?"
They said to him, "We can."
Jesus said to them, "The cup that I drink, you will drink,
and with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized;
but to sit at my right or at my left is not mine to give
but is for those for whom it has been prepared."
When the ten heard this, they became indignant at James and John.
Jesus summoned them and said to them,
"You know that those who are recognized as rulers over the Gentiles
lord it over them,
and their great ones make their authority over them felt.
But it shall not be so among you.
Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant;
whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all.
For the Son of Man did not come to be served
but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many."

NAB

The other day I was talking to a friend who was going through a difficult time in her life. As she shared with me the temptation she was trying to overcome, my heart went out to her because I went through something similar when I was younger. I knew the struggle. I knew the pain of feeling weak. It made me much more compassionate and understanding of what she was going through.

This comes to mind because the Second Reading speaks of Jesus saying,

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin. So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help.

It baffles my mind that God’s love for us is so deep that He sent His only son to save us. Because Jesus took on human flesh and was “tested in every way,” He knows what it feels like to experience temptation, fear, anger, betrayal, abandonment, pain, and suffering. When He says, “I know what you are going through,” He truly knows!

But as the Gospel tells us, “The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Jesus came to pay our ransom and because He knows what we are experiencing, His heart is filled with tenderness and mercy. He understand that we are weak, that we struggle, and at times, we fail. He wants to free us from our sin. He wants to fill our heart with love, mercy, strength, and the grace to move forward and grow.

Surrender yourself to Jesus. Let Him take care of you. In turn, you will be an instrument of mercy to those around you so they too may rest in his love.

Surrender yourself to Jesus. Let Him take care of you.Click to tweet

When you are feeling weak, turn to Jesus. Close your eyes and let Him embrace you. Hear Him whisper to your heart, “My little one, rest in me. I will refresh you and bring you peace. You are not going through this alone. I will see you through.”

photo by Sara Miller

Bobbi Rol is a wife, a mama of four and a blogger learning to love God in the midst of dishes, laundry and swinging light sabers. You can find out more about her here.