by Larry Weigum
Suffering and joy are so interconnected that one cannot exist without the other.
If we fail to accept life’s suffering, we also reject the joy for which God made us.
Reflection:
Failing to accept and profit from suffering is to reject God’s gift. It is a kind of disobedience. To be obedient is to not sin. Jesus accepted his own suffering in love of us. Because he allows our suffering, we come to know His Love. In this way, we gradually understand suffering as a redemptive journey toward heaven where sin will be no more. In this understanding, we can rejoice and be glad for the reward will be great in heaven. We can rejoice in suffering, and as suffering is accomplished, so is felt a sense of achievement…and this leads to joy!
If we look at suffering only as a punishment for sin, suffering is not tolerable. We then can endure suffering only to the extent of our will. Our will taken on its own will fail. Suffering experienced only on this level is to not seek to understand the fullness and depth of God’s love. Therefore, we must then seek knowledge.
The Living Word is metered out to us each day to aid in our progress towards knowledge. The more we know, the more pain and grief are felt at the offences we commit against our Lord. This drives us on further, deeper. When we suffer at this level, it is for the desire of God’s Will for us. God knows our heart. We know that we can hide nothing from our Lord. We then completely empty one’s self out to the Lord, trusting in His Mercy. We seek patience to endure according to His will.
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