A Homily on Luke 9:18-22 : The Son of Man MUST Suffer ( 26-9-25)

  A simple and heartfelt homily on Luke 9:18-22, showing how Jesus’ “must suffer” teaches us to trust God’s shaping in our lives and in our family struggles.(26-9-25)

Praise be to Jesus Christ 

There was a potter in a town who was a kind-hearted man and loved his pots so much that he used to speak to them. One day, while he was arranging the pots for the fire, a small pot began to cry loudly requesting him not do not put into the fire.  The small pot said “I cannot bear  the heat and the heat will destroy me.” The potter bent down gently and replied, “My dear pot, unless I put you in the fire, you will remain soft and useless. Only the fire can make you strong enough to serve others and carry water.” The little pot trembled and feared the fire, but it obeyed. When it came out, it shone brightly, firm and ready to serve.

Jesus,  in today’s Gospel, tells His disciples something even harder. He says, “The Son of Man must suffer greatly, be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed.” That small word “must” carries a profound truth. Jesus’ suffering was not an accident, nor could He avoid it. Just as the pot must pass through the fire to become useful, Jesus must pass through the cross to fulfil God’s plan of love and salvation.

This idea of a “must” is found throughout the Scriptures. The servant of God in Isaiah must bear the griefs and sorrows of the people. Joseph of the OT must had to undergo betrayal and slavery before God raised him to save his family from famine. Moses must face rejection from his own people before he can lead them out of Egypt. Each of these trials was not meaningless. Each “must” prepared them for something greater. God shapes His people through fire, through suffering, through moments that seem unbearable.

The saints understood this path well. Saint Edith stain  who faced  imprisonment and suffering  said, “Our only hope is on the cross.” Saint Francis of Assisi embraced poverty, sickness, and even rejection as gifts that brought him closer to Christ. They teach us that love and suffering are deeply connected. To follow Christ is to accept the crosses that come our way, knowing that they are part of God’s shaping hand.

We see this truth in our families every day. A mother must endure the pain of childbirth. A father must work tirelessly, often sacrificing his own comfort to provide for the family. Children must sometimes obey and give up their own desires. Even in religious life, a sister must bear moments of loneliness and struggle for the sake of community and prayer. These are the fires that shape us. If we accept them with faith, they make our hearts strong and our lives useful in God’s plan.

When Jesus asked, “Who do you say that I am?” Peter answered, “The Christ of God.” Yet Jesus immediately explained that being the Christ means the way of suffering. Without the cross, salvation would not be complete. Without the fire, the pot would remain soft and useless. Likewise, if we try to avoid life’s trials, we remain unshaped, weak, and unable to serve God and others fully.

So when we face difficulties, pain, or rejection, let us remember the potter and the pot. God, our Father, knows the fire we must pass through. He does not abandon us. The fire does not destroy; it shapes.  As the real followers of Christ we need to understand that, the cross is not the end, but the doorway to life, love, and resurrection. Every trial, every “must,” when accepted with faith, becomes a way to shine His love in our families, communities, and the world.

Lord Jesus Christ, help me to accept suffering with joy. Amen

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