The world teaches that it is necessary to live a life of comfort; one free of struggle, hardship, and misfortune. It considers one that is free of these as having a ‘successful’ life, because suffering is viewed by it as being something completely alien to goodness. Because tribulations come in many different forms – be it poverty, hunger, famine, war, sickness, or death; those with a carnal mind either conclude that there must therefore be no God. Others suggest that if one does exist, that He is either too far from us or unconcerned with our condition, and therefore unloving.
On the contrary, Christianity views suffering with great joy and a sign of God’s love for us. When we suffer, especially for His sake, it is pleasing to Him, not because He is a monster who delights in torturing or punishing us for sin, but because through it we become partakers of His own suffering.
St. Peter the Apostle addressed this matter in his first epistle, saying:
“For this is thankworthy, if for conscience towards God, a man endure sorrows, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if committing sin, and being buffeted for it, you endure? But if doing well you suffer patiently; this is thankworthy before God. For unto this are you called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving you an example that you should follow his steps. Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth” (1 Peter 2:20-22).
Did you notice how the Apostle showed us that suffering does not always equate punishment, since the Incarnate Logos suffered in His flesh in the place which, in actuality, we deserved? For what sin could He have been punished for by the Father, given that He is equally God and without sin? Has not the Lord also given us the example of Job the righteous, who suffered and was even accused of sin by his friends which they concluded was the reason for his misfortune, yet was in actuality pleasing in the sight of God? (Job 1:8).
Dare we not also consider St. Paul the Apostle, who suffered greatly for the sake of Christ, yet was righteous in the eyes of God since his sins were remitted in baptism? (Acts 9:18, c.f. Acts 22:16).
Consider the words of St. John Chrysostom, that golden mouth teacher, who said:
“All men you say, admire Job. And very properly so. For he fought a great fight and can stand comparison with Paul for his patience, his purity of life, his testimony to God, his courageous struggle with the devil, the victory in which his struggle ended. But Paul’s struggle lasted not just a matter of months, but many years; he was constantly running into the mouth of the lion, wrestling with countless temptations, and proved more resilient than any rock throughout. He was reviled not just by three or four friends, but by all the infidel false brethren, calumniated, spat upon and reviled” – (In Praise of St. Paul).
Again, to suffer in this life is to partake in Christ’s own suffering. Why is this? First, consider that it is through baptism that we “Put on Christ” (Galatians 3:27), as we become incorporated into Him and Him in us (John 15:4). It is also by baptism that we become members of His Body, the Church (Colossians 1:24). This means, therefore, that in our sufferings God is not far away from us, since He is everywhere present and filling all things and because by grace we are apart of Him. He prays and suffers through us, and we partake of His suffering of the Holy Cross.
It is for these reasons that St. Paul said:
“ I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me”(Galatians 2:19-20).
Since Christ suffers and prays in us by the Holy Spirit, we can therefore offer up our pain to the Father through Him, the great High Priest (Hebrews 2:17; 9:7,11,25). Therefore, as members of His pure body, we are apart of the priesthood of believers, and able to offer up our sorrows as a pure sacrifice. As the Apostle commanded: “offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:5).
Many of our Church’s greatest fathers commented on this matter. Hear the words of St. Ignatius of Antioch who said:
“I am a Priest of the Most High, to whom I daily offer a sacrifice and blessed indeed should I consider myself were I to be sacrificed to His glory.” And “Let fire and the cross; let the crowds of wild beasts; let tearings, breakings, and dislocations of bones … let all the dreadful torments of the devil come upon me: only let me attain to Jesus Christ” – (Epistle to the Romans 5).
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The holy father St. John Chrysostom further comments for our sake, teaching us that “He makes them; without death, a sacrifice and offering.” – (Homilies on John 82.1).
Hear the words of St. Gregory of Nyssa who says:
“How can you obey Paul when he exhorts you to offer your body a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, when you are conformed to this world and not transformed by the renewing of your mind, when you are not walking in this newness of life, but still pursuing the routine of the old man?” And to who else could this better apply to, my beloved, than to those who do not trust in the Divine Providence of God in regard to our suffering? It is the lack of trust of Him, thereof, that brought forth doubt in His love for us or even His existence, which I have addressed earlier. Of such, St. John Chrysostom speaks: “What then, is the cause of such a sickness? It is an inquisitive and curious mind, it is wanting to know all the causes of everything that happens, it is questioning the incomprehensible and unspeakable providence of God, and it is shamelessly investigating and being inquisitive about that which is limitless and unsearchable.”
It is essential to remember that God truly loves us, for God is love: “And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him” (1 John 4:16).
This is why St. Moses the Prophet tells us:
“Be valiant and strong, do not fear nor be afraid of them, nor be terrified before them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes before you and with you and among you. He will not leave you nor forsake you” – (Deuteronomy 31:6).
One of the greatest signs of our Lord showing us that He will never abandon us is by giving us His Holy Mother, the Theotokos St. Mary. For when He was dying on the cross, had He not told her; “Women, behold your son”? (John 19:26). This was not just about St. John, but all of us since He lives in us. As Origen says: “Christ lives in us. Therefore, at His crucifixion, He said to His mother concerning John, ‘Woman, behold your son!’ (John 19:26). Thus, whoever becomes perfect lives not for his own sake, but Christ lives in him.”
Let us count all of our suffering as a great joy, our own personal Calvary and martyrdom, be it sickness, financial hardships, being slandered, calumniated, disregarded, spat upon, persecuted, etc; trusting that all of it is simply God pruning us (John 15:2) to bare more fruit, and that we will be granted an eternal reward in heaven. The Lord has not abandoned Lazarus who suffered in this life, nor the holy Apostles, St. Stephen and many of the saints throughout time. He also does not abandon us, His children. We are simply on the narrow and difficult path to heaven by His Grace (Matthew 7:13-14).
Oh Lord, grant us the graces to suffer patiently for Thy sake. Amen.
Faith Unto Ages 