The Value of Suffering

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For in hope we were saved. Now hope that sees for itself is not hope. For who hopes for what one sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait with endurance. In the same way, the Spirit too comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit itself intercedes with inexpressible groanings. And the one who searches hearts knows what is the intention of the Spirit, because it intercedes for the holy ones according to God's will. We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. Romans 8:24-28

The workings of God are such a mystery that we, as humans, can never fathom how powerful they are. We live, we love, we suffer, we rejoice, but we don't know the purpose of any of it. We can only be grateful for the moments in which we have joy, because with sunshine, eventually there is rain, and with joy there is eventually sadness. But, with faith in God there is always hope.

Like all of us, I have found suffering in unexpected places. I don't mean to be nebulous about what's going on with my family right now. Suffice it to say that it's nothing extraordinary, nor fatal, just a little temporary purgatory on earth. But, as my faith in God is strong, I know that eventually my prayers will be answered, when it is time for them to be answered, when whoever is learning a lesson here has learned it. In the meantime the rest of us will suffer a little. Fortunately, I believe that suffering has its purpose in our lives, just as rain has its purpose.

I mentioned my husband's Aunt Karen last week and her story about her beautiful gifts of jewelry from her beloved. Another of Aunt Karen's jewelry stories came to mind today. On the day of Doug's brother's funeral a few years ago, she showed me a bracelet that she has with the twelve fruits of the Holy Spirit engraved on it. She told me that when she first received the bracelet, she would wake each morning and whichever of the "fruits" she looked at, she would practice that virtue during the day. She then started noticing that she was getting "long-suffering" quite a bit and gave up that practice. No one could blame her! None of us choose suffering, do we? We try to practice goodness and faith, charity and patience, but no one chooses to practice suffering. At least not anyone I know.

But suffering has its place, doesn't it? For one thing, it helps us to see the little things going on that are pleasant. Even something as simple as a beautiful blue spring sky, or a cool breeze through an open window. When we are suffering, we look for that which will ease our pain, even just a little.

Today's Divine Intimacy was about suffering. Of course it was -- another mystery of our God, to give us what we need even when we don't understand the how.

The Value of Suffering

"Suffering is the disagreeable feeling which we experience when something -- a situation, a circumstance -- does not correspond to our inclinations, our needs, or our hopes, which does not harmonize with them or gratify them, but on the contrary, contradicts and opposes them. Whereas all men are subject to this misery, the Christian alone possesses the secret of accepting it into his life without destroying the harmony or the happiness which he can enjoy on earth. This secret consists precisely, for a Christian, in attuning all kinds of suffering to his personal aspirations, which for him, can never be limited to an ideal of earthly happiness. This harmony is possible, for that which appears to be opposition and disagreement from one point of view, often turns into profit when seen in a different light. Thus, for example, physical suffering, cold, hunger, illness, while unpleasant to the body, can be very useful for the attainment of a moral or supernatural good, such as the acquisition of virtue, or progress in holiness. If, from a purely human viewpoint, some sufferings seem inopportune and useless, they are never so when regarded supernaturally. 'To them that love God, all things work together unto good' (Rom, 8: 28). Even the greatest calamity, private or public, can become a precious and most effective means of elevating the soul. Every kind of suffering can then be made comformable to the highest ideals of the Christian: eternal salvation, sanctity, the glory of God, the good of souls. But this congruity is impossible without love; or rather, it will be possible only in proportion to our love, for it was by love alone that Jesus transformed the Cross, a terrible instrument of torture, into a most efficacious instrument for the glory of God and the salvation of mankind. It is the same for us: charity, the love of God and of souls, will enable us to accept any kind of suffering, harmonizing it with our loftiest aspirations. In this way, suffering finds a place, a very important place, in our life, without destroying our peace and serenity. On the contrary, our spirit is dilated under an increasingly generous inspiration, unto an ever greater love. As a result, we shall be happy, even while we are experiencing pain. Behold how Jesus has transformed suffering; behold the value conferred on it by His Passion.



'Life passes so quickly that it is obviously better to have a most splendid crown and a little suffering, than an ordinary crown and no suffering. When I think that, for a sorrow born with joy, I shall be able to love You more for all eternity, I understand clearly that if You gave me the entire universe, with all its treasures, it would be nothing in comparison to the slightest suffering. Each new suffering, each pang of the heart, is a gentle wind to bear to You, O Jesus, the perfume of the soul that loves You; then You smile lovingly, and immediately make ready a new grief, and fill the cup to the brim, thinking the more the soul grows in love, the more it must grow in suffering too.

'What a favor, my Jesus, and how You must love me to send me suffering! Eternity itself will not be long enough to bless You for it. Why this predilection? It is a secret which You will reveal to me in our heavenly home on the day when You will wipe away all our tears.

"Lord, You ask me for this suffering, this sorrow...You need it for souls, for my soul. O Jesus, since You have made me understand that You would give me souls through the Cross, the more crosses I meet, the more ardent my thirst for suffering becomes.

"I am happy not to be free from suffering here; suffering united with love is the only thing that seems desirable to me in this vale of tears." (St. Therese of the Child Jesus)


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