Our suffering becomes redemptive when we unite it with Christ's suffering on the cross
"Unite yourselves spiritually to the Crucified Christ..." says Pope Benedict. As we unite our suffering to His suffering on His way to Golgotha, gloriously and mystically, we participate in the redemption His suffering merited.Deanna Aikman, ill with Lou Gehrig's Disease, testifies: "It is Christ who gives our suffering meaning." For this reason, we can even rejoice in our suffering; as St. Paul exclaimed, "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" (Colossians 1:24 [RSV]).
For, as we unite ourselves spiritually to Him in His suffering, God graciously allows us to participate in His affliction on behalf of His body, the Church. Our suffering, thereby, becomes redemptive. In this, I find great comfort.
Jesus’ cross helps us understand suffering, Pope tells young hospital patients
Vatican City, Oct. 26, 2005 (CNA) - Following today’s General Audience in St. Peter’s Square, Pope Benedict addressed a group of children from the "Citta di Speranza" (City of Hope) hospital in Padua, Italy, telling them encouragingly, that, Christ’s cross “helps us to understand the true meaning of suffering and pain.”
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posted by Dr. Denice Hanley, DPM, M.Div. @ 10:26 AM
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