The Glory of Christ's Suffering

I have to admit that I often think I know what suffering is but in all reality I don't.

My dad taught me what I do know of suffering though. Particularly in the last fifteen or so years of his life during which time I lived with and cared for him.

First my dad suffered mentally. He often spoke even up until his recent passing of his "mental demons" that he had dealt with for a very long time. He faithfully took psychiatric medication for about 40 years which helped him lead a very full life as attested to by the large number of family and friends that recently attended his funeral services. He was a loving and well loved man.

Second he suffered physically in the numerous injuries and operations that he suffered through courageosly particularly in the last ten or fifteen years of his life. I was there with him every step of the way as his faithful friend and companion son. I witnessed a lot of pain but also a lot of temporary healing too. That healing allowed us to spend a lot of healthy good times together and he with the rest of his family and friends as well.

Finally he suffered spiritually. He became a spiritual warrior quietly in his final years. He prayed for an hour each morning and kept a very long list of people that he had in his intentions directed to Our Lord Jesus Christ. Even though he was so faithful and diligent in his intentions and prayers he still suffered from spiritual doubts now and then especially when his pain and suffering got to be too great for him in his final hours.

Was he abandoned by God in the end? Not at all. He simply experienced something that Christ Himself suffered at the end when He uttered the Divine words of "My God, My God why have You abandoned Me?"

Christ took all of our sufferings upon Himself so that He could sanctify them and us in the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost.

We are the Glory of Christ's Sufferings when we take up our crosses and follow Him.

In Faith, Hope and Love.

Remember that death itself is no friend of ours and should be avoided at all costs lest we were to lose our eternal souls to damnation in the end.

Live! Live even with your sufferings through forging an honest and loving friendship with Our Lord Jesus Christ.

He alone will show us the way to eternal life.

God bless you and keep you in the midst of your troubles.

Show us the Way oh Lord.