Jeff Cavins
This last week I spoke on the topic of suffering at Our Lady of Lourdes in Little Falls Minnesota. The following are the fifteen things I mentioned that we should remember when we suffer. The heart of the talk was Colossians 1:24 "Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church."
Yes, it's true that Christ suffered for the world, but so that you could come to know the love of God, He has made room in his suffering for you to participate. The following points will help you participate in the suffering of Christ.
1.Understand that we have been called to participate in the redemption of the world. Col. 1:24; Rom. 8:28
2.Entrust yourself to God. 1 Peter 4:19
3.Unite your will with the will of Christ through prayer. Matthew 26:39
4.Realize that Jesus will not allow you to go through something that you can't handle. 1 Cor. 10:13
5.Embrace the suffering, conscious of the fact that God's grace is available, active and effective. 2 Cor. 12:9
6.Go to confession. Focus on eliminating sin, which weakens your relationship with Jesus. Hebrews 12:1
7.Participate on the paten during Mass. Offer you suffering up to God. CCC 1350
8.Avoid illegitimate suffering. Do not draw attention to yourself. Matthew 6:5-6
9.Think of others and offer your suffering for them. 1 Cor. 1:6
10.Actively love by doing what is right according to your vocation. CCC 518,1604
11.Pray the Rosary - Walk the passion of Christ with Our Lady. Concerning the rosary, remember "it beats the rhythm of human life..." Pope John Paul II
12.Study the Saints, many of them suffered and overcame great obstacles. CCC 313, 828, 1195
13.Rejoice that you can share in the redemption of the world. 1 Peter 4:13
14.Keep an eternal perspective. Ecc. 3:11; Matt. 6:19-20; Rom. 8:17
15.Trust God for the fruit of your suffering. 1 Cor. 3:7-8; Heb. 11:26
