Our capacity to suffer

Since suffering and death are unavoidable in our life, we just have to develop the appropriate skill and capacity to suffer and die. In this regard, the only way to proceed is to be vitally identified with Christ who knew how to suffer and die, how to conquer sin, suffering, and death that come as a consequence of sin.

Let’s take note of this important point. Not only is He teaching us how to suffer. He actually accompanies us in our suffering and death. He is willing to suffer and to die with us!

This is what we can gather as we go through the passion, death, and resurrection of Christ during the Easter triduum starting in the evening of Holy Thursday with the Mass of the Last Supper, then the Passion and Death of Christ on Good Friday and his Resurrection on Easter Sunday.

It would be good to find time to meditate more deeply and slowly on this most important event in the liturgical calendar that actually culminates and summarizes the redemptive work of Christ.

We have to understand Christ’s passion, death and resurrection are what complete our creation, providing us with everything we need to be reconciled with God and to be what we ought to be.

And all we have to do now is to apply the merits of Christ’s redemptive work on ourselves. Let’s remember that Christ does not impose his good designs for us on us. We have to freely accept and correspond to them.

We really need to know how to suffer with Christ. Any problem we encounter in life, in whatever form and degree, should always be referred and united to His suffering. We have to avoid going through our suffering simply on our own. That would simply be disastrous.

With Christ, we would know why suffering comes, why it can be a redemptive means, a clear expression of love and obedience to the will of God. With Christ, we lose the fear of suffering and even develop a welcoming attitude toward it, considering it is not only good for us only, but also for others. We would realize that it has tremendous sanctifying, purifying and atoning power.

Any form of suffering is actually an invitation for us to unite ourselves with Christ more intimately, and join Him in the continuing work of the redemption of man. That is why suffering has a very positive value.

We need to process these truths and considerations more slowly so we can develop the appropriate attitude and relevant skills. We should learn to suffer not only in silence but also in joy and optimism. The truth is Christ has taken up all our suffering. We really have nothing to worry about. Our role is only to have some of it to enable us to relate ourselves to Christ. Isn’t that wonderful?

Suffering therefore can and should be a happy event for us. And when due to our human weakness, we cannot help but feel burdened and pained, Christ also has reassured us to go to Him so he can refresh us. (cfr. Mt 11,28) So we should not delay in having recourse to Him whenever we in some way feel down, low and out.

Thus, our suffering should not be a hindrance in doing what we are supposed to do -sanctifying ourselves, sanctifying our duties and the world in general, and helping others to sanctify themselves. It can be a tremendous aid in carrying out the essential tasks and responsibilities we have in life.