A Presence that Disturbs 0 comments
Viktor E. Frankl, an Austrian neurologist and psychiatrist and a concentration camp survivor as well stated that unless he could attribute some meaning to his present predicament and to the suffering around him, even if he were to survive his life would be unbearable prolonged and ultimately meaning less. Life without meaning is no life at all. But in order to find the meaning of our life, we must choose, encounter, and suffer, because to live we must choose, to love we must encounter, and to grow we must suffer.
In the Gospel today, Jesus says that we will suffer. He also says that by our endurance we will gain our life. I think suffering is inevitable for the life of a disciple. Anthony Gittins, in his book A Prensence that Disturbs: A call to radical discipleship, said that God’s presence is a disturbing presence. We can see clearly in the life of Jesus. His presence is a presence that disturbs the power of evil, the status quo, and those who do injustice. By taking the side of the poor and the oppressed, the marginalized and the outcast, his presence became a presence that disturbs.
Every true experience of God, every real encounter, makes people restless, more inspired and more engaged with the world and humanity. By an encounter with God people become disturbed and become disturbers of the status quo. As followers of Jesus we must go wherever there is need, encounter whoever is in need, and do whatever it takes to bring the Good News of redemption and liberation. So mission requires that the disciples are like the master: disturbing presence. But for all of that we will suffer. If we do not suffer enough, may be we do not disturb enough the status quo and the evil.
