November 11, 2003
Meditation on Suffering
The power of suffering has been wiped out of American culture. But here’s a verse that always struck me as very profound:
1 Peter 4:1. Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same thought, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin. [emphasis mine]
Wow. Peter is not just saying “accept suffering,” he’s suggesting we seek it out. This is why St. Thomas More constantly wore a very uncomfortable hair shirt under his clothes. How many of us can say we seek out suffering?
And the verse ends on another note: “whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin.” Does this mean our suffering removes temptation or simply removes culpability? What do you think?
Jay
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"suffering in the flesh" like Jay's example can also have many different forms as I learned from my patron saint, St. Therese of Lisieux. She taught her little way of love of God in all things, through constant self-denial. She was known for instructing her novices by saying, "You know well enough that Our Lord does not look so much at the greatness of our actions, nor even at their difficulty, but at the love with which we do them." For Therese, to uncomplainingly answer a call which interrupted her, to be sociable when she preferred to be alone, to be kind and charitable in all things to those whom by nature she most preferred to stay away from, and to stay detached from her two dear sisters that she would have preferred the company of - these were the gifts, the sufferings, she could give. Her giving, her suffering was constant. So unlike many earlier saints, Therese found opportunities for suffering all around her through the practice of self denial, offering little things up during her daily interactions with people whom God placed in her life. We all have this opportunity. In Therese's life temptation from sin did not cease, but by living a life of suffering for Christ, her love for Him grew ever more that the mere thought of sinning against God was absolutely horrid. So I would conclude that Peter is saying that by living such a life of suffering we are united to Christ - suffering through Him, with Him, and in Him therefore, even though we may be tempted with sin, we choose to not sin because the reality of how offensive even the tiniest of sins is to our Lord is very close to our heart.
God calls us each to suffer in different ways. Pray to God and He will show you.
Another point I failed to include was that we don't have to go out and seek suffering, it comes across our path every day.
Posted by: Maria at November 14, 2003 12:36 AMAMEN! Great article, Jay, and response to it, Maria!
I was thankful for this article Jay as I have been reflecting and reading on suffering lately myself. How freeing is the notion that to suffer gladly is to find love. It is so much more fun than having a pity party!
