“Lament over Jerusalem” - Luke 13:1-9, 31-35

Part of the process of becoming a pastor in my particular traidition is writing and leading a Bible Study for your church community. I still remember the Bible Study I taught, even though it was over a decade ago - why suffering happens. The truth is that this is a really hard question. And our human minds cannot wrap around it. So we start to search for our own answers to the mysteries of God. Some people blame the sin of people -saying that they deserved tragedies to happen. Others blame God, saying that it must have been God's will. Other times, even our praise of God sounds like we are laying blame. Praise God that one person didn't become ill but another did. Or that one person made it to safety when they could have been in an accident while another was struck by a drunk driver. The truth is, we may never know why suffering happens. Jesus did not give us the answer to that particular question in this passage of scripture, but we do know this - Jesus understands our sorrow and suffering. Because Jesus has been there. Let us cling to this hope,. when we do not know where to turn.