Suffering is something we naturally avoid. Suffering is viewed as something negative and not desired. But we do know of the concept of redemptive suffering. A suffering united to Christ’s suffering for something outside of us, so it is not suffering for suffering’s sake. It is safe to say that we know that suffering is not something to be feared but something to enter into with the knowledge that it will bring us closer to God in many ways.
Suffering offers us wonderful opportunity for insight to the people and blessings around us. We see those who are willing to pray for us and provide for us in time of need. The goodness and generosity of others is made visible and we come to a deeper appreciation of our family in Christ. Our time of suffering allows us to see the needs and suffering of others if we can look outside of ourselves during this time. We can become more sensitive to the pain around us. This is possible through imitation of Christ, who while suffering on the cross was fully aware of our suffering and lack, even to the point of asking God for forgiveness on our behalf. In our time of suffering, we pray for our needs, and we also can pray for the needs of others. When we ask others to pray for us, we give them the opportunity to step beyond themselves and serve. We are all called to do this, and suffering offers a pathway for it to happen. “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” (Galatians 6:2)
Perhaps we can reflect on our pastoral role in the world? If we are to bear one another’s burdens, we are to tend the sheep along with the Church. It is too easy to assign this duty to the Church as though we are simply bystanders. The truth is that we are the ones charged to do this. If we genuinely love Christ, we will bring others to him. We will tend his sheep, all sheep, those who know of him and those who do not know him yet. We will see his face in those in need physically and spiritually. If we love Christ, we will answer the call he gave to Peter, “He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.”” (John 21:17)
We are all blessed beyond imagination, we just need to take time to reflect on it. We have our faith, friends in Christ, our faith community, and most have been blessed with possessions and means. It should be in our nature to see those in need around us, regardless of any need or suffering we are in and offer help; spiritually and physically. This is what God calls us to do, and it is exemplified perfectly in the life of Christ and our Blessed Mother. May we imitate them well! “But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart to him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” (1 John 2:19)
If kept in the right perspective, there is much blessing and beauty to be found in our suffering and the suffering of others. We can grow in humility and compassion, love, and understanding.
“I always want to see you behaving like a brave soldier who does not complain about his own suffering but takes his comrade’s wounds seriously and treats his own as nothing but scratches.” (St. Terese of Lisieux)
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