Don't Waste Your Suffering
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As we continue to get to know Jesus better, I was struck by Hebrews chapter five in which we are told that Jesus was made perfect through suffering: Hebrews 5:7, “During his life on earth, Jesus offered up prayer and entreaty, aloud and in silent tears, to the one who had the power to save him out of death, and he submitted so humbly that his prayer was heard. Although he was the Son, he learned to obey through suffering; but having been made perfect, he became for all who obey him the source of eternal salvation.”
God the Father allowed Jesus to suffer so that He would become the source of salvation. Likewise, God allows us to suffer; then he invites us to take up our own cross and join it to the suffering of Jesus. In this way we participate with Jesus in the conversion salvation of our loved ones and friends who are far away from Christ.
The Catechism (618) explains how God wants Our participation in Christ's sacrifice: The cross is the unique sacrifice of Christ…But because…he has in some way united himself to every person, the possibility of being made partners, in a way known to God, in the suffering of Jesus is offered to all people. He calls his disciples to "take up their cross and follow him", for "Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example so that we should follow in his steps." In fact, Jesus desires to associate with his redeeming sacrifice those who were to be its first beneficiaries. This is achieved supremely in the case of his mother, who was associated more intimately than any other person in the mystery of his redemptive suffering.
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Today I was experiencing a particular suffering. In prayer this morning, the Lord said to me: “Well, Michael, the pain is there, what are you going to do with it? There are people you care deeply for who are far away from me. You are afraid for them. Are you going to waste your cross? It could be used for them. Your cross is necessary for them to open up to me.”
How did I respond? “Well, Lord, I don’t like this, but you seem content to leave me with it, so I offer it up for this person and that one.”
When we can’t fix stuff in the lives of our loved ones, we should not lose hope, because we have recourse to an infinite power – the Cross of Jesus. Unite your cross, your suffering to the Cross of Jesus for the needs of your loved ones. Jesus is inviting you to participate with Him in their rescue through your suffering.
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Jesus invites us to help others by taking up our own crosses and following in his footsteps.
Mark 8:34 If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me.”
St John Paul II wrote “Suffering is a call. It is a vocation. Christ says: Follow me! Come! Take part through your suffering in this work of saving the world, a salvation achieved through my suffering! Through my cross!” Salvifici Doloris 19
This is what could lead St. Paul to write in Colossians 1:24 “It makes me happy to suffer for you, as I am suffering now, and in my own body to do what I can to make up all that has still to be undergone by Christ for the sake of his body, the Church.”
What could be lacking in the suffering of Jesus? Our participation!
Jesus is inviting us to help him rescue souls from going to Hell, and help others through their trials by our prayer and suffering united to His. Help Him help others! They depend on you.
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On Holy Thursday 1934, Jesus asked Faustina to help Him save souls by her suffering: “I desire that you make an offering of yourself for sinners and especially for those souls who have lost hope in God’s mercy. Diary 308
August 11 1934, Mary, the Mother of God came to visit her
· She was sad
· Her eyes were cast down
· She made it clear that she wanted to say something
· And yet… it was if she did not…
Faustyna begged Mary to tell her, so Mary looked at her with a warm smile and said, You are going to experience certain sufferings because of an illness and the doctors. You will also suffer much because of the image. But do not be afraid of anything. 316
The next day, August 12, 1934 Faustina fell ill with TB
· from that moment until the end of her life 4 years later, Oct 5, 1938
· Suffering was her constant companion (Diary 321)
Diary 1645 March 25, 1938, Faustyna wrote: “Today, I saw the suffering Lord Jesus. He leaned down toward me and whispered softly, My daughter, help Me to save sinners. Suddenly, a burning desire to save souls entered my soul. When I recovered my senses, I knew just how I was to help souls, and I prepared myself for greater sufferings.”
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Jesus said to St. Faustyna: “My daughter, I want to instruct you on how you are to rescue souls through sacrifice and prayer. You will save more souls through prayer and suffering than will a missionary through his teachings and sermons alone.” Diary 1767
“There is but one price at which souls are bought and that is suffering united to My Suffering on the Cross” Diary 324
“Every conversion of a sinful soul demands sacrifice” Diary 961
What sacrifices and suffering should we offer? Make of everything a sacrifice and offer it to God…
What you
· Did not choose
· Do not like
· Cannot change
· Accept with Trust
· Offer to Jesus to help others
· Mother Teresa: Accept what He gives and give what He takes with a big smile