From the Pastor: Rev. Anacleto S. Asebias, Jr.
22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
August 30, 2026
Matthew 16:21-27
Dear Ascension Family,
Blessings of peace and good health!
Suffering is always a scandal. It is all the more hard to take in a technological society such as ours, where we have all sorts of gadgets to make life less painful, more convenient and comfortable. Look at the variety of “pain killers” we have on the market. Today we emphasize “the easy way” in everything: instant meals, losing weight the quick and easy way, disposable items such as bottles, plates - even husbands and wives are sometimes disposable, to avoid the pain of living together.
But suffering is part of the human condition and part of being human. As the familiar saying goes, “no pain, no gain.” There are no important achievements without effort, pain, and sacrifice. This applies to art, sports, science, technology. This applies in a special way to love and commitment, the cost of discipleship of following Christ. The cost of discipleship involves a dying to self, which is inescapable if one wants to become a new creature in Christ.
There are two kinds of suffering: the necessary suffering and the unnecessary suffering. The unnecessary suffering is the suffering I impose on others by my selfishness. An example is when I create a traffic mess with my chaotic parking or by ignoring the traffic lights and blocking the intersection and passageways. It can be the suffering I bring upon myself through my negligence and stupidity. Examples include abusing myself with drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes. There is the unnecessary suffering of the epidemic of AIDS and other sexual diseases brought about by unrestrained sexual promiscuity encouraged and supported by some societies and governments.
Much of the sufferings in the world are unnecessary and man-made: violence, injustice, exploitation of the poor and powerless, irresponsible uses of natural resources that result in calamities. These are all from the sinful misuse of human freedom. And often we blame God for the consequent sufferings of this misuse of human freedom.
On the other hand, there is the necessary suffering, which refers to the suffering involved in growing up, in facing my limitations, in admitting my mistakes, in exercising one’s responsibilities, in accepting reality, in giving up a harmful habit, etc.
The first degree of wisdom consists in understanding the difference between these two kinds of suffering. The second degree of wisdom consists in avoiding the first and embracing the second.
When it comes to the cross in our life, we have the choice to accept it or reject it. Either we can pick up our cross and carry it, or we can turn away from it and refuse to carry it. Whether you are born with a handicap, or are suffering from a tragedy in life, you have the same choice. You have the same choice that Jesus had in the Garden of Gethsemane. Either you can drink the cup of suffering that has been poured out for you, or you can refuse to drink it.
Of course, this is not easy. Even Jesus, the Son of God, recoiled at the thought of drinking the cup of suffering that had been poured out for him, saying, “Father, if it is possible, take this cup away from me.” But then he quickly added, “Not my will, but your will be done.”
If we do not listen to Jesus and if we refuse to accept the cross, we will still experience suffering, the unnecessary kind, and be unhappy. If we listen to him, we will experience some suffering, the necessary kind, but we will be happy. Following Jesus makes all the difference in the world.
In the gospel reading today, Jesus is speaking of the necessary suffering involved in his own destiny. And he promises that if we pick up our cross and follow in his footsteps, he will lead us to life. And the life Jesus promises is not only life eternal in the next world but also life, right now, in this world.
If we pick up the cross and follow in the footsteps of Jesus, our cross can become a blessing and steppingstone to greater things. Rather than serve as an agent of death for us, our cross can serve as an agent of life, just as the cross of Jesus served as an agent of life for all the world.
May the Lord continue to keep and uphold us now and always!
Praying for you all,
Fr. Anacleto
