As Catholics we have a rich understanding of suffering and
that suffering can be redemptive. In
our first reading we heard one of the most important verses in Scripture on
this topic. St. Paul writes to the
Colossians: “I rejoice in my sufferings
for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what
is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his Body, which is the
Church…”
Paul
didn’t just make this teaching up—it came from Jesus. In the Gospel of Matthew Jesus taught, “as you did it to
one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.” On the road
to Damascus, our Lord asked Paul himself, “Saul,
Saul, why are you persecuting me?”
We
believe that our Church makes up the mystical Body of Christ. When one of the members of the Church
suffers, so does Christ. Thus,
when we suffer well we do so not merely for ourselves, but for Christ.
May
God give us the grace to offer all that we suffer to Him.
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