The world is still reeling from the tsunami disaster of South Asia claiming more than 150,000 lives. Aid has been pouring in from many countries and international organisations as the victims of the disaster cry out for food, water, clothing and medicine.

While there has been a large output of writing on this Asian crisis almost nothing has been said from a theological point of view about the mystery of human suffering. A disaster of such magnitude cannot be adequately addressed by aid, in its many forms, to South Asia . We must also listen to what our faith tells us in times of such massive human tragedy.

Today's feast of the Baptism of the Lord is a good place to start as it calls to mind our own baptism. St Paul tells us regarding baptism: “ When we were baptised in Christ Jesus we were baptised into his death; in other words, when we were baptised we went into the tomb with him and joined him in death ” (Rom 6: 3-4).

Our Church also teaches “baptism is the door to the Church”. We must keep both insights in mind: the entry through a door, which conveys feelings of joy and thanksgiving, and the immersion in suffering which brings pain and anguish. The tsunami disaster makes us think more of the second than the first.

Our Christian faith tells us that suffering is a mystery. Human beings are overcome by this mystery and sometimes lose faith in God. The Psalms are replete with instances of people crying out to God asking “Why?” – “ My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer; and by night, but find no rest ” (Ps 22: 1-2), or “How long?” – “ Lord of hosts, how long will you frown on your people's plea? ” (Ps 80:4).

SUFFERING AND SOLIDARITY

Yet the same psalmist tells us we must not despair; we must still trust and our final prayer must be words of hope: “ Restore us, O Lord God of hosts; let your face shine on us and we shall be saved ” (Ps 80: 19). Suffering not only demands hope and trust but calls for solidarity: those who suffer less are called to be in solidarity with those who suffer more: “ Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep ” (Rom 12:15 ). We see this solidarity in the $2-3 billion worth of aid pledged to affected territories by many countries, including Trinidad and Tobago .

We must not forget that prayer is also a form of solidarity, one that cannot be measured in material terms, but one that binds hearts together in times of tragedy. Suffering makes us question the meaning of life: those who live in affluence in Europe and North America are forced to question the meaning of life as they witness on TV 150,000 people, almost all poor, swept away in a matter of hours.

Suffering also makes us aware that “ God does not have favourites ” (today's second reading) – those who were not victims of the tsunami were no more blessed than those who were.

As we call to mind our own washing in water on the feast of our Lord's baptism, let us put ourselves in solidarity with the victims of South Asia . Let us remember in this Year of the Eucharist, humanity is all one in Christ.