Make your suffering meritorious

WORD ALIVE

Once a distraught man knelt in front of a life-size crucifix and poured out his many problems and sufferings.

He was startled when the Lord suddenly spoke from the cross:  “Alright, stop crying now.  I know how you feel.  Let’s exchange places.  I’ll carry all your sufferings and you hang here on the  cross, 24 hours a day!
 

The man replied: “Err… Well… you see, Lord, I was not really serious.  Thank you… Bye.”
 

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The above story shows that even the Son of God underwent terrible pains and sufferings. 
 

In the words of an existentialist philosopher, “Suffering is not a problem to be solved but a mystery to be lived.” 
 

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Jesus was concerned with the problem of human  suffering in all its forms as shown in this Sunday gospel. We see him curing people  who were  afflicted with various diseases, including the simple fever of Peter's mother-in-law (cf. Mk  1,30). But take note: despite the numerous healings, he did not abolish suffering altogether. 
 

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There are different kinds of sicknesses like cancer, renal failure, cardiovascular ailments, mild Covid like the present “walking pneumonia,” with contagious symptoms of flu, fever, coughing, and so on.
 

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There are emotional and mental sicknesses like loneliness, boredom, depression. A man told his friend in a banter, “I’m a walking economy. My hairline is in recession caused by severe worry, my stomach is in state of inflation,  and these two cause me depression.” The friend replied, “In my case, my bank assets were frozen, then liquidated, finally evaporated!”
 

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If we have physical sickness or mental ailments, what’s our Christian attitude? By all means, go to a doctor for healing.

If, however, our sufferings cannot be remedied despite our best efforts, then let’s pray for serenity and accept the will of God. 

A friend of mine whose affectionate, caring, and devoted wife died at 60, could not accept her tragic death. He was so distressed that he thought life had no more meaning, and even thought of ending his life. 
 

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I consoled him and said, “Jesus Christ did not want to suffer, too. While praying at the Garden of Gethsemane, he implored: “Father, take this cup (of suffering) away from me.” Did he get his wish? No. Jesus could only say, “Father, not my will but your will be done.”

My friend reflected on that and later felt a relief, and kept saying like a mantra, “Yes, Lord, your will be done.”
 

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Just as the cross of Christ was redemptive, so also our crosses, sickness and problems are our instruments of salvation. 

As St. Paul said: “If we suffer and die with Christ, then we will also rise in his glorious resurrection.”

Let’s pray for healing. It is said: “Prayer is the strength of people and the weakness of God. The more we pray, the more God becomes weaker and he gives in to our entreaties.”
 

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Rosary bracelet for a cause. Please help and support our seminarians by buying the Magnetic Rosary Bracelets. The proceeds will go to our Adopt-A-Seminarian scholarship program of Christ the King Mission Seminary at E. Rodrguez Blvd., Quezon City.

The Magnetic Rosary is not only a prayer article but also helps a normal blood circulation. E-mail Alvin Espiritu at mcfisvd@gmail.com.