Judith’s Suffering

Synopsis     Judith 9:12-10:10     10/23/2020 

Judith finished her prayer for the success of her ruse against the Assyrians.  

And then, she abandoned her widow’s dress. Then she washed with water, oil and perfume. After this, she put on festive clothes and arranged her hair. 

She gathered choice foods and other supplies and went out to the city gate. Everyone there marveled at her beauty as they bid her farewell. And then she departed out the gate and descended down the mountain.  

Judith’s Suffering and Determination 

In her besieged hometown, there was no water. The invading Assyrian forces had blocked it all up. Yet Judith used what little water remained as an offering to further the kingdom of God. She did not drink to satisfy her thirst. Instead she washed in accordance with the will of God.

Suffering and Determination to Love 

To love like God means to give away without an anticipation of personal return. So, “we love because He first loved us”.  

But giving away without the anticipation of personal return means that we are always giving without necessarily receiving anything from the person we have gifted. For me, this is an insight. God’s love is perpetually unrequited. And it seems there is always a certain, unavoidable pain associated with unrequited love.  

Of course, the truth is I don’t much like pain. And this is why, at least for me, authentic love is always more of a decision than an affection.

So, it’s good for me to accept this basic fact of The Way – while I am still along the way.  

“But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to others to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.” Matt 6:17