Yesterday I went into Bendigo hospital for a small operation at 7am in the morning. Everything went well and it was a good experience. All of us know that there is a lot of sickness and suffering being dealt with withing the walls of this hospital. During some of my visits to patients in my role as a Priest there are a number of times when people want to know why we as Catholic Christians have to suffer , a fair question indeed and I thought I might write a little blog on this today.
Why does God allow us to suffer? What value is there in suffering?
Sometime in our life we will face suffering, whether it be physical, mental, or spiritual. It is a common fact that no one wants to suffer. If one could program his or her life from the moment of conception, there would be a slim chance anyone would program suffering. Why should we? What value is there in suffering?
Sometimes God allows suffering in order for us to see our true colors and to help us realize that we are not invincible. So in some ways God uses suffering to get our attention. He may use an illness to slow down the pace of our life in order that we may see what we are truly missing--Him! It is only when we at our lowest that we sometimes look beyond ourselves and see Him and His ways.
The saints' lives were surrounded in suffering. God used their suffering in a different way—to imitate Him and His suffering. For just as Jesus suffered for our sins and for the conversion of our souls, he allows chosen souls on earth to suffer in the same way. A powerful example of the value of suffering can be found in Saint Faustina's Diary, Divine Mercy in My Soul. She states, "Oh, if only the suffering soul knew how much God loves it, it would die of joy and excess of happiness! Someday, we will know the value of suffering, but then we will no longer be able to suffer. The present moment is ours." (693)
The Virgin of Lourdes told St. Bernadette, "I do not promise you happiness in this world, but in the next." St. Bernadette's response to suffering was, "The more I am crucified, the more I rejoice."
Why is suffering easier for the saints?
This is a very easy question. Instead of focusing on themselves and their own misfortunes, the saints kept their eyes focused on God and Heaven. They were focused on eternity, not this life that passes in a blink of an eye. The saints accepted their suffering and abandoned themselves totally to God. God in return sent them graces that transformed their suffering into joy.
As Catholic Christians we need to wake up and see that we are not invincible. Every day, every second that we live is so important. God is in control and He can take us back whenever He wants. So just as we prepare for an evening out, or a celebration, we must prepare for Him. We must live each day as if it is our last day. When we are standing in front of God at our final judgment, we can no longer make excuses or escape by lying—it is too late. It will be too late for us to go back and undo our past or decide to start letting God into our lives. The saints understood the value of suffering and took advantage of their valuable time on earth as a time to worship God in a way those in heaven cannot.
(2 Cor. 12:9-10) "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." I will all the more gladly boast of my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities; for when I am weak, then I am strong."
(Col 1:24) - "Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, of which I became a minister according to the divine office which was given to me for you, to make the work of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now made manifest to his saints."
(Sir 2:1-6 ) - "My son, if you come forward to serve the Lord, prepare yourself for temptations. Set your heart right and be steadfast, and do not be hasty in time of calamity. Cleave to him and do not depart, that you may be honored at the end of your life. Accept whatever is brought upon you and in changes that humble you be patient. For gold is tested in the fire, and acceptable men in the furnace of humiliation. Trust in him, and he will help you; make your ways straight, and hope in him."
Maybe not everyone is chosen to suffer for God to the extent of the saints. God chooses whom He wants to suffer for Him. We can imitate the saints however, and offer what suffering we do experience in our everyday lives for others; whether it be persecution at work, a headache, dryness in prayer, etc. Some may want to offer their sufferings for a certain cause, such as the conversion of sinners, priests, the end of abortion, or other worthwhile intentions. To find out what your suffering should be offered for, pray and ask God to enlighten you and He will.
There are a lot of people who are suffering in this world for unjust causes. Sometimes it is very difficult to understand why God allows such suffering. To be chosen by God to imitate His suffering shows how much He loves us. As Christians, we are taught to believe and have faith without seeing. For many of us it may be hard to see God's love in our suffering. One might say, "God can't hug me and make me feel better, " or " I want to be comforted by Him and I can't even see Him! How am I supposed to accept this suffering?" The question God might ask you is "Did you ask me? Did you ask me to help you accept your suffering?" If these examples apply to you, try saying from your heart, "Lord, I know my condition is one of suffering and I must learn to live with it. Please give me the grace to see Your love for me in my suffering and give me the grace to suffer with joy for Your intentions." If you pray to God in this way every day, you will find a peace that will accompany your suffering. You will be strengthened in a way you never believed possible. You cannot become a saint by letting God do all the work; you must pray and ask Him for this grace.
A good quote upon which to meditate is from Romans 8:17-18 which states; "but if we are sons, we are heirs also: heirs indeed of God and joint heirs with Christ, provided, however, we suffer with him that we may also be glorified with him. For I reckon that the sufferings of the present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory to come that will be revealed in us."
So the next time we feel pain, sadness, overwhelming loneliness, desperation or anxiety, rejoice! Yes, rejoice! God has chosen us to imitate in His sufferings. God has given all of us the opportunity to unite with Him and become saints. Everything that God gives to us has a purpose. Suffering should not be blamed for stripping us of every minute or hour of our life. No! Suffering is a precious gift from God. The gift that molds ordinary men and women into saints. We can choose to feel sorry for ourselves or we can choose to make our sufferings worth while. It is our choice.
Father Ed Bakker
Anglican Catholic Church / Original Province
Mission of Saint Aidan of Lindisfarne
Bendigo
Australia
