When it comes to understanding suffering, as well as death, the first thing that must be mentioned is that they are a result of original sin. When we suffer, we can choose to seek consolation in God and become closer to Jesus. We see in these verses of 2 Corinthians 12 that this suffering is once again “for the sake of Christ.” It is through grace that Paul can be content with suffering. In this column we will consider Paul’s inward focus, the way in which he sees himself, through his suffering, as participating in salvation, especially the Passion, death, and resurrection of Christ. 2 Tim. 2:3 – Paul says to take our share of sufferings as a good soldier in Christ. in Philosophy from Franciscan University of Steubenville, Ohio. (4) We may suffer persecution because of our faith--especially when we take a stand on biblical issues, i.e., suffering for righteousness sake (2 Tim. Of course not. But this persecution unites us more closely to Jesus and repairs our relationship with God. One cannot say enough about the importance of this inspired book. 1 Cor. 2 Cor. God actually calls us to suffer as His Son did, and this is not to diminish us, but to glorify us, because it is by our suffering that we truly share in the eternal priesthood of Jesus Christ. 1:8 – Paul instructs Timothy to share in suffering for the Gospel. Redemptive suffering is the Catholic belief that human suffering, when accepted and offered up in union with the Passion of Jesus, can remit the just punishment for one's sins or for the sins of another, or for the other physical or spiritual needs of oneself or another. 2 Cor. By virtue of our priesthood, we suffer to repair our relationship with God for sins that He has already forgiven us. If we unite our sufferings with His, we will be comforted by Him. Brian is currently authoring the regular series, "Catechesis and Contemporary Culture," in The Sower, published by the Maryvale Institute and is also in the process of writing the Philosophy of Religion course book for the B.A. Is there something lacking in Christ’s sufferings? Christ lives in him when he is “crucified with Christ.” John Paul II notes that “Christ also becomes in a particular way united to the man, Paul, through the cross” (SD, 20). This may give us an indication of the uniquely Catholic perspective on suffering. Bible Verses about Suffering - Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we… I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the… Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the… But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are… He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and… He is also a faculty member of the Theology and Philosophy departments of the Maryvale Institute, Birmingham, England. Search Catholic Online for Catholic news, entertainment, information, media, saints, Bible, and prayers. 3:12 – all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. Indeed, “Jehovah is very compassionate and merciful.” (James 5:11; footnote) Additionally, Jehovah helps us to bear our suffering. This passage follows a text where Paul speaks about all he had gained according to the flesh, being a Hebrew and a Pharisee. In suffering, when united to Christ, death now means life. For Paul to live is gain because while he suffers in this life he is imitating Christ and becoming more Christ-like. Why does God allow suffering? 2 Tim. Somehow the average Catholic does not associate joy with holiness but believes holiness is synonymous with misery. We receive here an insight into the effectiveness of grace. Matt. We suffer “to make us rely, not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.” (2 Corinthians 1:9). 1 Peter 1:6 – Peter warns us that we may have to suffer various trials. In fact, he “keeps transforming himself into an angel of light,” says the Bible. There is a very different view of suffering on the Catholic side o’ town. The Catechism of the Catholic Church encourages and reminds us of our vocation: "By His passion and death on the Cross Christ has given a new meaning to suffering: it can henceforth configure us to Him and unite us with His redemptive passion" (#1505). We see elsewhere in Philippians this notion of imitating Christ being gain for Paul, whether in death or life. 8:18 – the sufferings of the present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. This is because suffering causes us to turn to God and purifies us from sin. Our suffering furthers our growth in holiness which is the aim of Catholic life. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as refuse, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own, based on law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God depends on faith; that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his suffering, becoming like him in his death, that if possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead” (Philippians 3:8-11). He gains righteousness not through his own power but through Christ’s. Northern Cross, Diocese of Duluth, Minnesota. The Value and Meaning of Redemptive Suffering: (1) Our self-sufficiency decreases, so Christ in us can increase. Three times I besought the Lord about this, that it should leave me; but he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’…For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities; for when I am weak then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:7-10). Paul recognizes the efficacy of suffering as a means of obtaining holiness which leads to resurrection and eternal life. God promises us that our suffering will ultimately be followed by glory. Required fields are marked *. There is one person who stands out above all to give an answer to these deepest of questions, namely St. Paul. He says, “But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account.” (Philippians 1:24) Also, to die is gain because if he were to die he would share in the resurrection of Christ. 11:3 – Jesus gives power to His witnesses clothed in sackcloth. 16:24; Mark 8:34 – Jesus said, “if any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” Jesus wants us to empty ourselves so that God can fill us. 1 Peter 5:10 – after we have suffered, the God of all grace will restore, establish and strengthen us. Yet Catholics are more focused on the Passion than on Pentecost while Pentecostals are more focused on, well, Pentecost. All Christians have or will suffer ( John 16:33; Acts 14:22 ). Answer: It has been said that longsuffering means “suffering long.” That is a good answer, but a better definition is needed. 1:29 – for the sake of Christ we are not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake. 1:5-7- if we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort as well. 4:5 – Paul instructs Timothy to endure suffering to fulfill his ministry. According to the Bible, God will bring an end to the suffering of every human on the planet. Col. 1:24 – Paul rejoices in his sufferings and completes what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of His body. Is the rare ‘Christmas Star’ visible this December the Star of Bethlehem? If we are weak, we are strong in Christ. Righteous suffering is a powerfully unifying force in the body of Christ. John 12:24 – unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone and bears no fruit. God will end all human suffering. Catholic Wedding Ceremony – Traditional and Modern Services. The first and second parts of Christ’s words about the Final Judgment unambiguously show how essential it is, for the eternal life of every individual, to “stop”, as the Good Samaritan did, at the suffering of one’s neighbor, to have “compassion” for that suffering, and to give some help. James 4:8-10 – we must purify our hearts and grieve, mourn and wail, changing our laughter into morning and joy to gloom. 8:17 – Paul says that we are heirs with Christ, but only if we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with Him. Through faith, suffering brings about hope in God and, through endurance, salvation. We reap what we sow (Gal. Eph. John 7:39 – Jesus was first glorified on the cross, not just the resurrection. 8:18–22). 2 Tim. —Philippians 4:12, 13. 1 Peter 4:13 – Peter says to rejoice in Christ’s sufferings in … Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. 2 Thess. 2 Peter 3:9 - The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. This proves the Catholic position regarding the efficacy of suffering. Our suffering, united with our Lord’s suffering, furthers the work of His redemption. Why not? 7 Be patient, therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. 1 Peter 4:16 – if we suffer as Christians, we should not be ashamed but glorify God. in Philosophy and the Catholic Tradition program at the Maryvale Institute. Jul 9, 2017 - Explore polka dot's board "Saints quotes on suffering" on Pinterest. Printed with permission from the Northern Cross, Diocese of Duluth, Minnesota. But any piety that depends on circumstances is a house built on sand. 1:23- Paul preaches a Christ crucified, not just risen. Because of the rebellion of Adam and Eve against God, the physical world itself was subject to corruption and decay (Rom. 12:11 – this discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but it brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness. 3:10 – Paul desires to share in Christ’s sufferings in order to obtain the resurrection. He says: “And to keep me from being too elated by the abundance of revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to harass me, to keep me from being too elated. But it is righteous suffering where all of us who love the Lord, every one of us without a single exception, can gather at the feet of Jesus and weep together with the deepest understanding. 1 Peter 4:13 – Peter says to rejoice in Christ’s sufferings in order to rejoice and be glad when Christ’s glory is revealed. Rom. Jesus' suffering on the cross is the greatest example of horrible suffering bringing about the greater good for humanity. (2) We suffer because of our own foolishness. Phil. Currently you have JavaScript disabled. The word longsuffering in the Bible is made up of two Greek words meaning “long” and “temper”; literally, “long-tempered.” To be longsuffering, then, is to have self-restraint when one is stirred to anger. In St. Paul’s writings we find a greatly developed meaning of suffering. As priests, we atone for the temporal punishments due to our sin. Luke 14:27 – Jesus said, “whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me, cannot be my disciple.” If we reject God because we suffer, we fail to apply the graces that Jesus won for us by His suffering. Rom. Paul reveals to us the paradox of the cross. Top 14 Bible Verses About Suffering. James 5:7-10 Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE) Patience in Suffering. He writes a monthly catechetical article for The Northern Cross, of the Diocese of Duluth, and is a contributing author to the Association for Catechumenal Ministry's R.C.I.A. It is one of the unchanging features of the human condition. This is why he says in 1 Corinthians: “For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1:18). Growing in holiness requires more than having faith in God and accepting Jesus as personal Lord and Savior. Catholic Online has many special features to help you find the information you are looking for. 12:9-10 – Jesus’ grace is sufficient, for His power is made perfect in weakness. When we make the sign of the cross we invite the Lord to join us in our suffering. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. 'All are Welcome' not a welcome hymn at Mass, USCCB committee says. Those who suffer with faith in Christ will rejoice in His glory. 1 Peter 2:19-21 – Peter instructs that we have been called to endure pain while suffering for Christ, our example. Rev. Our suffering furthers our growth in holiness which is the aim of Catholic life. There is this intimate bond between the cross, the epitome of the sufferings of Christ, and the suffering of the people which is a participation in the self-same cross. The Bible regards suffering as normal. Paul says: “Indeed I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Jesus is teaching that suffering and death are part of every human life, and it is only through suffering and death that we obtain the glory of resurrection. Creatures will abandon a person in his suffering, but You, O Lord, are faithful.-St. Faustina He had no form or charm to attract us, no beauty to win our hearts; 3 he was despised, the lowest of men, a man of sorrows, familiar with suffering, one from whom, as it were, we averted our gaze, despised, for whom we had no regard. 2 Like a sapling he grew up before him, like a root in arid ground. (3) We sometimes suffer because it is God’s discipline. In his human nature, God himself suffered rejection, humiliation, ridicule, abandonment, buffetings, scourging, crucifixion, and death. It is in weakness that we are more apt to trust in Christ because we realize that what we accomplish is not of our own doing, but the grace of Christ is working in us. Luke 9:23 – Jesus says we must take up this cross daily. Rom. He requires us to join our daily temporal sacrifices (pain, inconvenience, worry) with His eternal sacrifice. 5:2-3 – Paul says that more than rejoicing in our hope, we rejoice in our sufferings which produces endurance, character and hope. The Lord loves each one of us more than we love ourselves, and will only permit suffering if it brings about our salvation. The Apostle Paul experienced various faces of suffering ( 2 Corinthians 4:8-10 ). Sufferings atone for the temporal effects of our sin. 1 Peter 4:1-2 – Peter says whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin to live not by the flesh but by the will of God. The Suffering Servant is an enigmatic figure described in the Book of the Prophet Isaiah. (2 Thessalonians 2:9, 10; 2 Corinthians 11:14) The Devil’s existence can be perceived by the damage he causes. For the sake of the Gospel, it is to be embraced. (1) We suffer because we live in a fallen world where sin reigns in the hearts of men. 3:12). 1 Cor. Brian Pizzalato is the Director of Catechesis, R.C.I.A. As evangelists, we suffer with Christ for the Gospel. So whether he lives and suffers, leading to the resurrection for himself and others, or dies and shares in the resurrection himself alone, he will be united to Christ and be an example for all. He says: “For I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, as it is my eager expectation and hope that I shall not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. This text refers to John 19:34, when Jesus was pierced on the cross by the soldier’s lance. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us … The transcendent One All-Holy God of the Bible who, as Creator, is present to all creation, and who, as Savior, acts immanently within that creation, vanishes. Our suffering also benefits others in the mystical body of Christ. Christ has allowed room in His Body for our sufferings, and our sufferings allow room for Christ to bring us to life. Brian holds an M.A. You or someone you know has probably suffered in their life, and it is common to all mankind, but here are the top 14 Bible verses about suffering found in Scripture. They aim to show that evil and suffering count against the existence of a perfectly good and all-powerful God. Copyright © 2020 | ScriptureCatholic.com | All rights reserved. 4:10 – Paul writes that we always carry in the body the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. We thus have hope that any sufferings we or others endure, no matter how difficult, will pale in comparison to the life of eternal bliss that awaits us. Two questions have plagued the minds of Christians and non-Christians alike: why is there suffering? Part of this suffering comes from the fact that we live in a fallen world, and this kind of suffering falls on Christians and non-Christians alike. 12:5-7 – do not lose courage when you are punished, for the Lord disciplines whom He loves. In the end, we learn that we may never know the specific reason for our suffering, but we must trust in our sovereign God. Because we are being saved through the death and resurrection of Christ we must participate in his Passion to obtain salvation. Suffering can come because of foolish choices. T h e real reason that God allows suffering to come into the world is for the greater good of us all. 2 Tim. & Lay Apostolate for the Diocese of Duluth. “For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, and He scourges every son He receives.” (Heb. 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