Our capacity to suffer

Fr. Roy Cimagala .

SINCE suffering and death are unavoidable in our life, we just have to see to it that we develop the appropriate skill and capacity to suffer and die. In this regard, the only way to proceed is to be vitally identified with Christ who knew how to suffer and die, how to conquer sin and the suffering and the death that come as a consequence of sin.

And let’s take note of this important point. Not only is he teaching us how to suffer. He actually accompanies us in our suffering and death. He is willing to suffer and to die with us!

This is what we can gather as we go through the passion, death and resurrection of Christ during the celebration of what is known as the Easter triduum that starts in the evening of Holy Thursday with the Mass of the Last Supper, then the Passion and Death of Christ on Good Friday and his Resurrection on Easter Sunday.

It would be good if we find time to meditate more deeply and slowly on this most important event in the liturgical calendar that actually culminates and summarizes the redemptive work of Christ.

We have to understand that Christ’s passion, death and resurrection are what complete our creation, providing us with everything we need to be reconciled with God our Creator and Father and to be what we ought to be.

And all we have to do now is to apply the merits of Christ’s redemptive work on ourselves. Let’s remember that Christ does not impose his good designs for us on us. We have to freely accept and correspond to them.

So, we really need to know how to suffer with Christ. Any problem that we encounter in life, in whatever form and degree it comes, should always be referred and united to the suffering of Christ. We have to avoid going through our suffering simply on our own. That would simply be disastrous.

With Christ, we would know why suffering comes, why it can be a redemptive means, a clear expression of love and of obedience to the will of God. With Christ, we would lose the fear of suffering and would even develop a welcoming attitude toward it, considering that it is not only good for us only, but also for others. We would realize that it has tremendous sanctifying, purifying and atoning power.

Any form of suffering is actually an invitation for us to unite ourselves with Christ more intimately, and to join him in the continuing work of the redemption of man. That is why suffering has a very positive value.

We need to process these truths and considerations more slowly so that we can develop the appropriate attitude and the relevant skills. We should learn to suffer not only in silence but also in joy and optimism. The truth is that Christ has taken up all our suffering. We really have nothing to worry about. Our role is only to have some share of it to enable us to relate ourselves to Christ.

Isn’t that wonderful?

Suffering therefore can and should be a happy event for us. And when due to our human weakness, we cannot help but feel burdened and pained, Christ also has reassured us to go to him so he can refresh us. (cfr. Mt 11,28) So we should not delay in having recourse to him whenever we in some way feel down, low and out.

Thus, our suffering should not be a hindrance in doing what we are supposed to do—sanctifying ourselves, sanctifying our duties and the world in general, and helping others to sanctify themselves. It can be a tremendous aid in carrying out the essential tasks and responsibilities we have in life.

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Beware of the Frankenstein effect. We have to be most wary of the so-called Frankenstein effect of our new technologies. As defined by some dictionary, the Frankenstein effect is “any agency or creation that slips from the control of and ultimately destroys its creator.” It is like a sweet poison, a friendly fire.

We cannot deny that many of our wonderful inventions, the new technologies and gadgets that have given us tremendous advantages and conveniences, have spoiled and practically destroyed lives of many people, especially the young ones who are very vulnerable since they do not know yet the art of prudence and self-discipline in their use.

No wonder some prominent people involved in the making and selling of these new technologies and gadgets regret making or selling them because of the great harm and damage these things have caused.

Some of them even have gone to the extent of refusing to use these gadgets anymore. Or they prohibit their children to use them especially while in the bedroom, for example, where they are most vulnerable.

But these disturbing developments should not translate into banning all these technologies and gadgets altogether. What they should provoke and inspire is for us to make serious effort to teach and learn prudence and self-discipline in the use of these things.

And there’s only one main principle we have to follow for all of us to learn prudence and self-discipline in this regard. And that is that we all train ourselves to be God-centered. If we are not clear about this or are weak in this area, there is no way we can derive a true good from these wonderful human inventions.

We cannot over-emphasize what Christ said in this regard. “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.” (Mt 6,33) We have to do everything so that this clear indication of Christ becomes our fundamental attitude toward our worldly affairs, and especially toward our use of the new technologies.

Let’s hope that we can live out what Psalm 27,7-9 says: “Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice, And be gracious to me and answer me. When You said, ‘Seek My face,’ my heart said to You, ‘Your face, O Lord, I shall seek.’ Do not hide Your face from me, Do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my help; Do not abandon me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation!”

It’s good that we carve these words deep in our heart so we can always recall them especially in our times of difficulty or trouble. But more than that, we should try to build up our desire to see Christ in everything, in everyone and in every situation, good or bad.

Everyday, let’s see to it that what drives us is the desire to seek Christ. From the moment we wake up in the morning till the time when we are about to retire, let us keep that desire strong and vibrant. That is the only way we can avoid the pitfalls of our weaknesses, the many temptations around and the consequences of sin, both ours and those of others.

We should realize that it’s when we are vitally united and identified with Christ that we would experience the peace that only Christ can give and not the way the world gives peace. Besides peace, we can experience a deep sense of confidence and security despite the difficulties we have to face.

Most of all, we can manage to be prudent and disciplined in the use of the many fascinating worldly inventions and thus avoid getting spoiled and destroyed by them. We can avoid the Frankenstein effect!

E-mail: roycimagala@gmail.com