Redemptive Suffering

[isabella1]

When we suffer, why do we offer it up? What is the purpose of our suffering? I have been thinking a lot about this lately.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church encourages and reminds us of our vocation: "By His passion and death on the Cross Christ has given a new meaning to suffering: it can henceforth configure us to Him and unite us with His redemptive passion" (#1505).

Meditate upon those key phrases: they (sufferings) "configure us to Him" and "unite us with His passion". These are keys to this world-we must submit, unite and configure every trial and tribulation into, up to, Christ-never leaving it separate from Him and possibly waste it.

Redemptive suffering is any trial or tribulation (physical or mental) we offer up and UNITE to Jesus- as a "gift" to Him to express our love thru a costly way, in exchange for some other good. Notice the key elements: we consciously choose embrace suffering; it is precious (a "gift") because it is painful (not fun or "easy"); it brings us close(r) to Jesus in an intimate and intense way; and the suffering may "spiritually repair" my own soul or others-and thereby help in the work of redemption (Christ's allowing me to help Him save souls).

• "Whoever follows me must take up his cross..." (Mt 10: 38).
• "Abba, Father. All things are possible to Thee; remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what Thou willest." (Mk 14:36).
• "What we suffer at this present time cannot be compared at all with the glory that is going to be revealed in us...We know that all things work for good for those who love God...For I am convinced that neither life nor death...nor future things, nor powers nor any other creature can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus" (Rm 8:18, 28,38).
• "For the doctrine of the cross is foolishness to the world. But to those who are saved, it is the power of God...For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, the weakness of God is stronger than men." (I Cor 1:1.18, 25).
• "If we are afflicted it is for your encouragement, which enables you to endure the same sufferings that we suffer. Our hope for you is firm, for we know that as you share in the sufferings, you also share in the encouragement." (1 Cor 1:6-7).
• "But we hold this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us. We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained; perplexed but not driven to despair; persecuted but not abandoned; struck down but not destroyed, always carrying about in our bodies the dying of Jesus so that the life Jesus may also be manifested in our body." (II Cor 4:7).
• " 'My grace is sufficient for thee; for strength is made perfect in weakness.' Gladly, therefore I, (St Paul) glory in my infirmities that the strength of Christ may dwell in me. For when I am weak, then I am strong"(II Cor 12:8-10).
• "...A thorn in the flesh was given to me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I begged the Lord about this, that it might leave me, but He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' I will rather boast gladly of my weaknesses in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me. Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions and constraints for the sake of Christ, for when I am weak then I am strong" (II Cor .12:7-10)
• "With Christ I am nailed to the cross. It is now no longer I that live but Christ Who lives in me" (Gal 2:19-20).
• "Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, for I fill up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ." (Col:24-read this one again-and again!).
• "This indeed is a grace, if for consciousness of God anyone endures sorrows, suffering. unjustly." (I Pt 2: 19).
• "Now no chastening for the present seems to you to be joyous, but grievous, nevertheless afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby." (Heb 12:11).
• "For it was fitting that He, for Whom and through Whom all things exist...should make the leader of their salvation perfect through suffering." (Heb 2: 10)

Quote to Ponder: "Once you are joined to the Lord, you become as omnipresent as He is. Instead of offering assistance in one particular place, doctor, nurse, or priest, in the power of the Cross you have the ability to be everywhere at once. At every scene of misery. Your compassionate love, drawn from the Redeemer's Heart, can take you in all directions, allowing you to sprinkle on every side the Precious Blood that soothes, heals and redeems." (St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, OCD)

 

[Tigg]

Thanks for the info you gave. Something I wonder about also so I can't give you one shred of help. Just will read. I know when in pain I might and usually do, ask God for help or nothing but schreech in agony.

Your post gives me something to ponder on. Thanks!

-Peace-

 

[MoNiCa4316]

That's an idea that I'm still trying to get used to...it's *very* new for me. Even though I have experienced it to a degree.

Thanks for your post

God bless

 

[benedictaoo]

That's why the stigmatist said, all the baptized have the power of the cross to save souls... we are all priests. We have been baptized into this mystery, the mystery of faith, the mystery of redemption. We have a share in it, we are partakers of the divine nature. We truly are children of the most high.

 

[HisKid1973]

I just learned here about offering things up...It seems sometimes like it's like getting "credit" t for what were going through...Thing is there are many facets to why we go through what we do..Alot of times we're just reaping for all the poor choices we make in life as we brought it on ourselves..

In order for us to grow spiritually flesh has to die..Chastisement is painful but it yields fruit of gold ,silver and precious jewels born from obedience to Him..Testing is a part of life for those who choose to commit their lives to Him..The ywat we embrace it or grumble about shines a light on how spiritually mature we really are....Count it all joy? You mean rejoice at our trials and tribulation? Yes we can rejoice that God is at work in us.

I have many health problems, some due to genetics and some from a fall from a railcar..Some days I feel like I've been in a car wreck the night before..This has dramatically change they way I minister to others..You have to deal with the life you are given and it will make you or break you..We have to in our issues keep our thoughts on Him to keep them away from our own self pity..Also there are may saved and unsaved that are worse of..OK enough of my rambling..Blessing to you my dear spirit filled sister in Christ..K

Ps..I has a "special" step son who is in a group home..he is 28 with the mind of an 8 year old yet the simplicity in which he lives in gives me insight of living with the faith of a child...

 

[benedictaoo]

No Kim... you need to pray and ask God to reveal this to you.

We aren't getting credit for anything. It's not about us, it is about our hearts growing in love for others.

God gave our suffering means and purpose. He changed the whole economy of evil and suffering for us.

He didn't remove it, although He could, He left it with us and He Himself enter into it.

When we join Christ and suffer with Him on the cross, we are in union with Him, we are one with Our Lord and it's our Lord, not us who gives our suffering a higher purpose.

I know you have such a strong stumbling block that's a bias and resentment for Catholicism but I pray Kim, you get rid of it and you will just be a bit more open minded and allow God to speak to your heart. Catholicism is the truth and I pray you will allow yourself to let God show you that.

You don't suffer for nothing, just to suffer. You can join it to Christ and together as one, the grace can change hearts and minds. Because that is what the Cross is, grace that changes hearts and minds.

Next time you experience great pain, think of the Lord coming to you with His crown of thorns and asking you if you would wear it for a while, for the purpose of many hearts coming to know who He is.

I can tell you if you open yourself up to this, you will feel a closeness with Christ you never knew you could feel. You will also know what it is to give your life, to suffer for the sake of another and that is the essense of growing in God's love, to love others to the point you are willing to suffer for them. Can't get anymore Christ like than that.

 

[MoNiCa4316]

Job 23:10
But he knows the way that I take;when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.

 

[MoNiCa4316]

I believe that redemptive suffering may be one of the ways that God takes something evil and turns it to good.. so that's one of the ways the devil is defeated.

 

[Caedmon]

I just learned here about offering things up...It seems sometimes like it's like getting "credit" t for what were going through...

I wouldn't say I "get credit" for the things I offer up. I offer up my suffering to make myself think about - and connect myself to - the suffering of others, to help other people who are going through that pain, and to keep me from selfishly holding onto the pain that I feel personally, thereby allowing Jesus to liberate me from its bonds.

 

[benedictaoo]

No greater love than this, to lay ones life down.

If we know ppl who are in serious need of salvtion, health, healing.. in need of knowing who their savior is... and you want so badly for them to come to the knowledge of Christ and be saved by Him... Yes, you can pray for the grace to be given to them.. that is a very good thing for you to do and it is love to do that but Christ said, no greater love is this, to lay your life down for them.

We can, Christ won this for us, He gave this to us as part of redemption- to give our whole life for the person.. to offer to God not just a prayer but our whole day, our joys, our sorrows, our work, our rest, our play... we lay our lives down for others in union with the Mass which is the sacrifice of Christ and we just can't be anymore like Christ then to get on the Cross with Him and to suffer with Him for the souls who need Him still.

And it's not just suffering, we can offer our joy and our work in union with Christ to advance the salvation of the world. That's why we are called Christians, we are little Christ's and we always act in union, not apart, becuase apart for Him we can do nothing.

 

[MoNiCa4316]

that is the truth

 

[isabella1]

I just learned here about offering things up...It seems sometimes like it's like getting "credit" t for what were going through...Thing is there are many facets to why we go through what we do..Alot of times we're just reaping for all the poor choices we make in life as we brought it on ourselves..

In order for us to grow spiritually flesh has to die..Chastisement is painful but it yields fruit of gold ,silver and precious jewels born from obedience to Him..Testing is a part of life for those who choose to commit their lives to Him..The ywat we embrace it or grumble about shines a light on how spiritually mature we really are....Count it all joy? You mean rejoice at our trials and tribulation? Yes we can rejoice that God is at work in us.

I have many health problems, some due to genetics and some from a fall from a railcar..Some days I feel like I've been in a car wreck the night before..This has dramatically change they way I minister to others..You have to deal with the life you are given and it will make you or break you..We have to in our issues keep our thoughts on Him to keep them away from our own self pity..Also there are may saved and unsaved that are worse of..OK enough of my rambling..Blessing to you my dear spirit filled sister in Christ..K

Ps..I has a "special" step son who is in a group home..he is 28 with the mind of an 8 year old yet the simplicity in which he lives in gives me insight of living with the faith of a child...

How beautiful, thanks for sharing HisKid. I know the pain you have been in with your health conditions. Thanks also for sharing your story about your step son. Yep I agree about the simplicity, if we all could be that pure and child like.

You have been on my prayer list for some time now,You just didnt know it.

I admire how your persevere in all your afflictions. You sharing your story, gives people a good example of how to live for Christ THROUGH pain and suffering.

God Bless you Brother! Peace and Blessings.

 

[isabella1]

That's an idea that I'm still trying to get used to...it's *very* new for me. Even though I have experienced it to a degree.

Thanks for your post

God bless

Monica, you can in prayer even offer up to the lord right now your previous sufferings, its a good way to start. And yes, I am sure Satan hates when we unite our sufferings to the cross. That means he is defeated all over again.

Caedmun, like what you had to add.

Bene, like what you said too, especially about offering up a whole day for a person. It really does the soul good, and pleases the Lord when we do that.

I happen to do Spiritual Bouquets for people, its kind of the same thing you are talking about bene. I have how to do a spiritual bouquet on my blog, if you ever want to do one for someone.

Peace and Blessings.

Tigg, i know what you mean about schreeching, I have been there many times too. Even now I sometimes have to be reminded "Offer it Up".

 

[HisKid1973]

na ,na na, na na, ...I did know this....God Bless you real good my dear mountian climber sister in Christ..

 

[isabella1]

na ,na na, na na, ...I did know this....God Bless you real good my dear mountian climber sister in Christ..

Ok silly, glad you did know. Back at ya! Oh and this too So thke that!!! He He. By the way thats ICE climber.

 

[HisKid1973]

ICE climber.[/B]

I know..I jusst didn't want to get your head swellin...

 

[isabella1]

I know..I jusst didn't want to get your head swellin...

Oh I see, well little secret... shhhhh... it actually shrinks when cold! LOL!

I am sure a lot of peps would agree with me on that one including my Love. He He.

 

[ShannonMcCatholic]

There was a great quote in Canticle for Liebowitz I actually think it is likely the best thing I've ever read explaining the merit of suffering:

"I cannot understand a God who is pleased by my baby's hurting!"

The priest winced. "No, no! It's not the pain that ispleasing to God, child. It's the soul's endurance in faith and hope and love in spite of bodily afflictions which pleases Heaven. Pain is like negative temptation. God is not pleased by temptations that afflict the flesh; He is pleased when the soul rises above the temptation and says 'Go, Satan.' It's the same with pain, which is often a temptation to despair, anger, loss of faith-"

 

[benedictaoo]

That's a great way to understand it-- the illness, pain, suffering, struggles are all temptations that come from the enemy even when he does not directly give us the pain, he surly uses it to get us to despair and give up.

Christ took every kind of evil and pain there is and transformed it into a grace, that when we endure with love and fortitude the way He did, we can change the world.

 

[ShannonMcCatholic]

Love this Scripture:
"More than that , we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us"