Weekly THIS AND THAT for March 4, 2007: How Can I Deal with Suffering?

This and That:
How Can I Deal with Suffering?

Our Lenten Family Friday talks continued this week with our theme: “How What We Believe Can Make a Difference.” This second session addressed the question of how we can deal with suffering, as followers of Jesus Christ.

Fondly,
Father Nick Amato


We began by looking at the question: “What is our view of suffering?” Is suffering something to be avoided, resisted and rejected, or is suffering a normal part of life? Can suffering be both of these at different times?

Sometimes in our modern American society, we find the attitude that bad things should never happen to good people. Yet everyone experiences suffering in their life.

When do I accept suffering as a normal part of life, leading to something new, or better?
Examples included the pain of childbirth, the separation that parents of teens and young adults feel when their children move away, the loss of elderly parents, the letting go that is required when it’s time to leave a job or a home

We then looked at times when we experience suffering that is extraordinary, such as a car accident, a terminal illness, or the experience of being abused.

When you do experience suffering, whether it’s the ordinary suffering that comes in the course of life or an unexpected suffering, what has given meaning to your suffering? Was it believing that the present suffering was leading to new life? Was it the supportive presence of others? Was it your faith that God was with you? Any of these attitudes or beliefs involve TRUST in God and others.

If we believe in Jesus Christ, how does that influence our experience of suffering? Since Jesus became incarnate and lived our human life, we see that he is God with us, he enters into our human experience and takes our sufferings upon himself. Jesus relieves the suffering of others through his healing presence, and Jesus accepts his own suffering, for our sake.

The Paschal Mystery of Christ’s cross and Resurrection stands at the center of the Good News for those who believe. Our faith in Jesus assures us that by his death, he liberates us from sin and by his Resurrection, he opens the way for us to new life. From looking at Jesus, we learn a basic principle: that accepted suffering gives rise to new life.

If we reflect upon the purpose of Jesus’ life, we also find the purpose of our own lives as his disciples. Jesus lived his whole life in obedience to his Father’s love for us. In that obedience, Jesus endured the opposition of sinners. Ultimately, he was put to death because of sin – and thus triumphed over sin. Through Baptism, we are partners in the Paschal Mystery and we are called to live in obedience to God’s love, just as Jesus did. Part of this obedience is the call to take up our cross and follow Jesus. Taking up our cross means accepting our humanity and the humanity of others, with love and mercy.

Let’s not forget that the cross is only half of the Paschal Mystery. We must remember the Resurrection! We learn from the Paschal Mystery the balance between death and new life. Jesus’ death was not the end of the story, because love cannot be put to death. Jesus is present in a new way following his Resurrection and his Spirit guides the church to this day.

In the Letter to the Romans, we find an explanation of how we participate in the Paschal Mystery: “Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were indeed buried with him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in newness of life. As to his death, he died to sin once and for all; as to his life, he lives for God. Consequently, you too must think of yourselves and being dead to sin and living for God in Christ Jesus.”
(Romans 6: 3-4, 10-11)

If we think of the Paschal Mystery as a template placed over our lives through our Baptism, then how do each of us answer these questions:

How do I experience my suffering or little deaths, in light of the cross of Christ?
➢ When have I experienced new life from an experience of dying?
➢ Do Christians face suffering and death differently than non-believers?
➢ These are good questions to reflect upon during this season of Lent.

Next Friday’s topic is “The Story of Dry Bones: Yours and Ours.” Please consider joining us and find out what this intriguing topic is all about!