What is redemptive suffering?
Catechism Meditation:
On the cross Christ took upon himself the whole weight of evil and took away the “sin of the world,” of which illness is only a consequence. 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. ―No. 1505
REFLECTION. God does not cause suffering but the reality is, suffering exists. When we suffer it can be empowering to understand the incredible mystery of redemptive suffering. One could say that Jesus lived His entire life to get to His weakest moment. It is in His weakest moment that the most powerful gift was given to humanity. His suffering, sacrifice and death would rip the veil and bring the realities of suffering and evil to its knees. The truth is when we are at our weakest moments we call out to God. When we are in the depths of despair, we call out to God. When we are strong and things are going well, many times we rely on ourselves, but we must rely on God in all things. We are called to give thanks in all things: our triumphs, our joys, our weaknesses and our hardships (1 Thes 5:18). Our weakness and sufferings, when united to the suffering of Christ, allow humanity to participate in salvation: “I rejoice in my sufferings for I am making up what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ, for the sake of his body, the Church (Col 1:24)”.
When St. Paul said that his sufferings completed what was ‘lacking’ in Jesus’ afflictions that did not mean that there was anything ‘missing’ in Jesus’ sacrificial death. Rather, as Pope St. John Paul II put it, “Christ raised human suffering to the level of redemption. Jesus calls us to follow His example and take up our cross, as through any suffering we endure in union with Christ, we can play a role in the redemption of our brothers and sisters, by giving our afflictions a redemptive character. While Christ achieved redemption completely, He did not bring it to a close, but it remains open always to sufferings that any of us may endure out of love for someone else.”
The Catholic Church teaches that suffering is not pointless; it can have spiritual value. This means we can offer our pain as a sacrificial prayer (e.g. as penance for our sins or intercession for others) that can share in the redemption of the world. When you experience any difficulty, pain, or suffering in your life, you can offer it up for someone else or for some intention that could use God’s grace. For example, if you’re going through a difficult illness, or struggling to recover from surgery, or perhaps you’re just having a tough time at work, accept that cross as silently and selflessly as you can for an intention: maybe for the conversion of sinners, or for souls in purgatory, or for a friend’s troubled marriage, or for someone who has a drug addiction, or for anyone you know who could use some spiritual help in that moment. Whatever pain or hardship you undergo can be offered up to God in union with Christ’s suffering to give it a redemptive quality. Offering up your suffering is a powerful way to become like Christ because you have now added new meaning to your effort—to desire what Jesus desires on the Cross, to save souls.
PRAYER. Lord, grant me the grace to grow in humility, patience, perseverance, faith, hope, and Your love for everyone with whom I come into contact. I offer up these sufferings to be united with You and Your sufferings on the cross, for Your greater glory, the conversion of sinners, and [my special intention].
Timeless Wisdom Quote:
“Never ask what did I do to deserve this? Because Jesus may say to you what did I do to deserve the Cross? If God the Father permitted His Divine Son to feel the agonies of Calvary, it must be that Crosses fit into the Divine Plan. If your cross is mental, change your behavior, confess your sins, and make peace with God. If your cross is physical, offer it up in union with Our Lord on the Cross for the conversion of souls. There is a price tag on every soul. Every soul costs something. Some souls are bought by prayers; others are bought through the kindness of alms; but most of them are bought the way Our Lord brought us, through pain and suffering.” ― Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen