Third Sunday of Easter
“Smoting” or Non-“smoting”?

Some times I get angry at things that frustrate me. I’m driving home and traffic slows to a crawl. The electricity goes out while I’m watching a favorite show. So I have to struggle with the line in our first reading, where the disciples were “rejoicing that they had been found worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name” (Acts 5:41). They weren’t just frustrated; they were flogged for believing in Jesus. And still they rejoiced.
	Imagine rejoicing over pain and suffering. These disciples had seen Jesus on the cross. When he rose from the dead, they began to see that his suffering was not a tragic loss, but a sign of his glory. They loved him so much that they took to heart his command to take up the cross. And when they suffered because they believed in him, as is recounted in today’s reading, they saw that as a way to imitate Jesus on the cross. Those who had followed him in life could also follow him to the cross—and many did that literally, by dying for their faith.
	Most of us today rarely have the chance to die for our faith. We may wonder if we even have the courage it would take. Instead, we usually find ourselves suffering because we have done wrong. God does not use special interventions to smite sinners. Think of the times we were punished as a child. Think of the times we lost a friend because of a cruel remark. Think of the times we got a ticket for speeding. These are the result of our actions. These are sufferings that we would rather avoid.
	Jesus, however, suffered for our sins when he was totally innocent. If he could do that, could we not accept suffering for our own sins when it comes? We may not be ready to rejoice in that suffering, but we can at least try to learn from it. If we behave differently because of it, if we can grow to be better persons, then that suffering can be our way of accepting the cross.
Of course, not all suffering is caused by the sins of the person suffering. The suffering of the innocent is a great mystery, a cause for sorrow and a challenge to help where we can. But like growing pains, all suffering is a step to new life in Christ. And that is what Easter is about.
Tom Schmidt

Short Form

Some times I get angry at things that frustrate me. So I have to struggle with the line in our first reading, where the disciples were “rejoicing that they had been found worthy to suffer dishonor for the sake of the name” (Acts 5:41).
Imagine rejoicing over pain and suffering. These disciples had seen Jesus on the cross. When he rose from the dead, they began to see that his suffering was not a tragic loss, but a sign of his glory. And when they suffered because they believed in him, as in today’s reading, they saw that as a way to imitate Jesus on the cross. Those who had followed him in life could also follow him to the cross.
Most of us today find ourselves suffering because we have done wrong. God does not use special interventions to smite sinners. Think of the times we were punished as a child. Think of the times we lost a friend because of a cruel remark. These are the result of our actions. These are sufferings that we would rather avoid.
Jesus, however, suffered for our sins when he was totally innocent. If he could do that, could we not accept suffering for our own sins when it comes? If we behave differently because of it, if we can grow to be better persons, then that suffering can be our way of accepting the cross.
Of course, not all suffering is caused by the sins of the person suffering. The suffering of the innocent is a great mystery, a cause for sorrow and a challenge to help where we can. But like growing pains, all suffering is a step to new life in Christ. And that is what Easter is about. 
Tom Schmidt