Redemptive Suffering

This is a reflection of today's scriptural reading.

Corinthians 12:9 "...My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

St. Paul had some kind of  affliction, we are not sure what it was, but it was a thorn for him.  God allowed him this suffering but gave him the grace to endure.  Suffering either makes us run to God or away from Him.

What's your superpower? SUFFERING!

We all suffer.

It's not fun.

But there's hope, it can be used for good.  Suffering is a superpower everyone has if they discover its value.

Unite our sufferings with Christ's sufferings on the Cross and you will see suffering in a whole new light.

What are our sufferings?  Sickness, not making ends meant, seeing loved ones make bad decisions, drama you don't want to be a part of, physical ailments, car problems, addictions, raising children, carrying the burden of others. Simply put, living life on Earth.

This is what my redemptive suffering looks like, not pretty!

What is redemptive suffering?  It is 'offering it up'.   We Catholics have a coined phrase "offer it up for the poor souls".  Which really means 'quit complaining, suck it up, there's people in purgatory that need your prayers'.  "Offer it up" has been used by millions of Catholic moms over the years to shut their kids up because they scrapped their knee on a rock. Or maybe when a daughter has a collarbone that looks funny and you really don't want to take them to the emergency room....just sayin'...

So. Much. Suffering.

There is so much suffering.  The world's problems can be overwhelming.  I have chosen to live a more simple life or in other words 'buried my head in the country sand'.  I can't do the news.  I look online to a few stories that are of interest and get overwhelmed with sadness.  Then there's social media.  I'm about to quit it, but it has become almost a tool of necessity for communication that it would be like living without a telephone.  I'm saddened on how everyone has to give their opinion and you have to choose one side or another.  It gives me stress and anxiety. But then someone out of the blue contacts you, you haven't talked to them in 25 years so it makes it all worth staying plugged in.  There's seeing your friend's kids pictures and keeping in touch with family. I'll offer up the drama to keep connected with my favorite people.

Don't waste your suffering.  Use it to help others.  We are all called to serve and be like saints, holy people of God.  2 Corinthians 1:3-4  "...God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too."  Read the first chapter in 2 Corinthians. It's a good one on value of suffering.

St. Therese of Liseux

One of my favorite role models, St. Therese, the little flower.  My 2nd daughter has her namesake.  She lost her mother at a young age and had tuberculosis.  No one knew she was sick for a long time. She quietly suffered.  She died at a young age. She was ever cheerful and knew the value of redemptive suffering.

https://www.littleflower.org/therese/reflections/st-therese-on-suffering/

How do you use your suffering?

Do you wallow in self pity?  Does everyone around you know your problems? Do you complain and moan?

Take Narcotics Anonymous for example, WOW what a way to share your sufferings with others. The sole purpose of the group is to share in each others sufferings.  The sufferings they endure helps another. Their example reaches and teaches others in a more profound way because they have 'been there, done that'.

Share your experiences so that others my reap the benefits of your sufferings.

Jesus Suffered

Jesus did this.  He used his sufferings for our benefit.  He was beaten, whipped, carried the cross, had thorns plunged in his head, was nailed, cut with a sword, DIED and came alive again all to teach us a better way.  His sufferings give us hope that this life is only temporary.  The 3rd heaven awaits! (2 Corinthians 12:2, it's just really our belief of regular heaven).

Miss Knee

Sufferings are sometimes innocent or by our own making. For example, I thought it would be a good idea in January to sign up for a half marathon.  It's this Saturday (it's April). I'm missing my teenage daughter's track meet and have to get back in time for another daughter's school play.  Didn't know all of this in January.

Then there's Miss Knee.  Miss Knee doesn't understand the concept of redemptive suffering.  I tell her to offer it up on our runs but SHE DOESN'T LISTEN! My game plan already is to offer it up. I have someone in mind I want to offer this up for.  I'm hoping thru my sufferings that my prayer will be answered.

Miss Knee, she is not nice.

Suffering in this world is inevitable.  No one can escape it but there's hope.  We have another world waiting for us that promises no suffering. Your attitude on suffering can change your entire outlook on life. Embrace the suffering, unite it with Christ, offer it up as a prayer for someone else who is suffering.

What can you offer up today?

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