by Fr. Jim Whalen
2002, Issue 4
Realistically, humanity cannot escape suffering, despite all efforts. In this Advent time, in preparation for Christmas, the need for the sanctification of suffering directs us to reflect on the Holy Innocents, innocent children who were put to death in place of Christ, giving witness to God by a martyr’s death. F. J. Sheed helps us to focus on the mystery of suffering of the Innocents: “There is anguish for us in thinking of the slain babies and parents. For the babies the agony was soon over; in the next world they would come to know whom they had died to save and for all eternity would have that glory. For the parents, the pain would have lasted longer; but at death they too must have found that there was a special sense in which God was in their debt, as he had never been indebted to any. They and their children were the only ones who ever agonized in order to save God’s life…” (To Know Christ Jesus, pp. 45-46).
They gave their lives for a Person - for a Truth whom they did not even know. It is through faith that a Christian can discover in his suffering and other people’s suffering the loving and provident hand of God the Father. “We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him” (Rom 8: 28). Faith transforms the meaning of suffering. By uniting our suffering with Christ’s suffering, it is changed into a sign of God’s love, something of great value, something fruitful and beneficial.
“These have been redeemed from among the human race as the first fruits of God and for the Lamb of God; they follow the Lamb wherever He goes” (Feast of the Holy Innocents, Communion antiphon).
The Hedonists saw pleasure as the goal of life and attempted to avoid suffering at all costs. Jewish people, chosen by God, saw any suffering as a punishment for sin. Jesus Christ changed this belief. The entire world changed after His birth. He became our brother by the Incarnation. He became our Saviour by His suffering on the Cross. Christ’s answer to suffering is explained by St Peter: “If you do wrong and get beaten for it, what credit can you claim? But if you put up with suffering for doing what is right, this is acceptable in God’s eyes. It was for this you were called, for Christ suffered for you in just this way and left you an example to have you follow in His steps” (1 Pet 2:20-21).
The Cross, pain, and suffering are the means Jesus used to redeem us. Since then suffering has a new meaning when it is united to Him. Our Lord changed the laws of creation for our benefit. He chose to take on our humanity in all things except sin. He never used His power to avoid suffering. He suffered from hunger, exhaustion, and pain. He experienced ingratitude, betrayal, indifference, and abandonment. He took upon himself excruciating moral agonies by burdening Himself with the sins of the world, and His humiliating death on the Cross. Christ wanted us to understand that there would be suffering that we could not change. In accepting such suffering united to Him, it could have redemptive meaning and lead to personal purification. St Paul explains this doctrine: “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” (Col 1:24).
Today, suffering finds no place in our society, which for the most part is pagan, but this is true even for many who call themselves Christians. The Cross is rejected in public life, banned from many churches, schools and offices. Suffering is necessary to obtain real happiness and abundant graces. If we live our lives as Christ commanded us, there will be suffering at all ages, of all kinds, but if we suffer with Christ, we will also be glorified with Him.
“I consider the sufferings of the present to be as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed in us” (Rom 8: 17-18).
The evils of the world are traceable to original sin, personal sin, and ultimately Satan. God does not cause evil and suffering. He permits evil and suffering in order to draw some good out of them. Joining our sufferings to those of Christ gives them value and brings us closer to Him. “Suffering is present in the world in order to release love, in order to give birth to works of love toward neighbour, in order to transform the whole of human civilization into a ‘Civilization of Love’” (Salvifici Doloris, Pope John Paul II, #30). Suffering is an invitation to be more like Jesus.
Let our gifts of love this Christmas give birth to pro-life works of mercy and peace. ¤