‘Completing what is lacking’ (Col 1:24) ‘On God rests my deliverance’ (Ps 61[62]:7) summarizes our faith. Christ’s redemptive suffering is perfect and has fulfilled its purpose. Moreover, in the words of Blessed John Paul II, ‘in the cross of Christ not only is the redemption accomplished through suffering, but also human suffering itself has been redeemed’. Far from suggesting there could be any shortfall in Christ’s passion and death, St Paul opens our eyes to our own lack of participation in Christ’s suffering. Christ invites every human being to be a cell of his Body. He offers us a share in his redemptive suffering, by lovingly drawing our pain into his own. The Redemption, accomplished through love, ‘remain always open to all love expressed in human suffering’. How can the head suffer and the body not suffer? The mystery of the Universal Church, the Body is paschal. St Paul first encountered the Risen Lord and only later was called upon to suffer for him. Until the end of time the Church continues to proclaim the Good News, to share in Christ’s redemptive work through love and suffering. And the glory of the Resurrection is the context of this labour and suffering. This is what makes joy possible – ‘I am now rejoicing in my suffering for your sake’. FRUIT: If we suffer with Jesus, ‘life and death are made holy and take on a new meaning’ (Gaudium et Spes, 22).
Posted on: Mon, 09 Sep 2013 04:49:54 +0000
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