WE need to discover and appreciate
the link between
suffering and loving. The two need not go against each other. In fact,
they have to go together if we want our suffering to be meaningful and
fruitful. And we have a way to do that.
By uniting our suffering with the passion and death of
Christ on the cross, the vital link between suffering and loving is
established. The sting of suffering and death is removed, and the
guarantee of our resurrection and our victory over death, sin and all
forms of evil that cause us suffering is made.
We just have to learn to be sport about our unavoidable
condition of suffering in this life and adapt the proper attitude and
reactions that should be inspired by our Christian faith. We have to
educate our senses, feelings and emotions according to the indications
of our faith and the recourse to the sacraments. By developing a life
of authentic piety, we can hack it.
In this, we should follow the example of Christ described
in St. Peter’s first letter. That is why it is always worthwhile to
develop the habit of meditating on the passion and death of Christ so
we can have some clear ideas about the meaning, reason and purpose of
suffering.
In that way, we would be properly motivated in our
suffering and would in fact look forward to it rather than run away
from it, just as Christ looked forward to his passion and death and
did not run away from it.
“Christ also suffered for you,” St. Peter said, “leaving
you an example that you should follow in his steps. He committed no
sin. No guile was found on his lips. When he was reviled, he did not
revile in return. When he suffered, he did not threaten, but he
trusted to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body
on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By
his wounds you have been healed.” (2,21-24)
If we would have the mind of Christ in our suffering, for
sure we can manage to have peace of mind and even joy, knowing that
our suffering will always produce some good fruits not only for us but
also for the others. We can manage to stay away from self-pity and
anxiety that can do a lot of harm on our mental health, not to mention
our spiritual health.
It is important that we see in suffering the very act of
loving, because we convert suffering into an expression of our
obedience to the will of God who allows us to suffer. Let’s remember
that nothing happens in our life, including our suffering, that is not
at least allowed by God in his providence. And if he allowed it to
happen, it’s because there’s a greater good that can be derived from
it.
Let us break loose from the fear of suffering. Rather, we
should feel privileged when some suffering comes for it is a clear
occasion for us to show our love for God and for others.
suffering and loving. The two need not go against each other. In fact,
they have to go together if we want our suffering to be meaningful and
fruitful. And we have a way to do that.
By uniting our suffering with the passion and death of
Christ on the cross, the vital link between suffering and loving is
established. The sting of suffering and death is removed, and the
guarantee of our resurrection and our victory over death, sin and all
forms of evil that cause us suffering is made.
We just have to learn to be sport about our unavoidable
condition of suffering in this life and adapt the proper attitude and
reactions that should be inspired by our Christian faith. We have to
educate our senses, feelings and emotions according to the indications
of our faith and the recourse to the sacraments. By developing a life
of authentic piety, we can hack it.
In this, we should follow the example of Christ described
in St. Peter’s first letter. That is why it is always worthwhile to
develop the habit of meditating on the passion and death of Christ so
we can have some clear ideas about the meaning, reason and purpose of
suffering.
In that way, we would be properly motivated in our
suffering and would in fact look forward to it rather than run away
from it, just as Christ looked forward to his passion and death and
did not run away from it.
“Christ also suffered for you,” St. Peter said, “leaving
you an example that you should follow in his steps. He committed no
sin. No guile was found on his lips. When he was reviled, he did not
revile in return. When he suffered, he did not threaten, but he
trusted to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body
on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By
his wounds you have been healed.” (2,21-24)
If we would have the mind of Christ in our suffering, for
sure we can manage to have peace of mind and even joy, knowing that
our suffering will always produce some good fruits not only for us but
also for the others. We can manage to stay away from self-pity and
anxiety that can do a lot of harm on our mental health, not to mention
our spiritual health.
It is important that we see in suffering the very act of
loving, because we convert suffering into an expression of our
obedience to the will of God who allows us to suffer. Let’s remember
that nothing happens in our life, including our suffering, that is not
at least allowed by God in his providence. And if he allowed it to
happen, it’s because there’s a greater good that can be derived from
it.
Let us break loose from the fear of suffering. Rather, we
should feel privileged when some suffering comes for it is a clear
occasion for us to show our love for God and for others.
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