Looking at the Realism of Suffering

Looking at the Realism of Suffering

Suffering in itself can very often become the most advantageous entity in our lives.  Most people would quickly respond with, “are you nuts?”  Who in their right mind would willingly stand and say, “Throw it at me Lord, I need more of that today?”   However, look back at scripture, especially in the New Testament, finding martyrs who were quick to accept martyrdom for Christ and his Truths.  Naming a few; St. Thomas More, who would not support the king's choice of divorce, Stephen, the deacon of Rome, who became the first martyr for Christ, Peter and Paul, who became the two center posts of Christianity from the start and St. Joan of Arc, who willingly said I will not refute the words Christ put upon my beliefs.

All of these and more who willingly accepted their master Christ and his three hours on the Cross at Calvary, suffering for each person’s soul in order to forgive God’s children from eternal death.   

To suffer is to find a new perspective in what it is to be part of the human family where everything is not a utopian existence.  Sometimes the most exclusive portion of society's upper class find themselves under the spell of disappointments where their class and wealth elude them as fodder for life.  One unfortunate result of quick stardom in Hollywood finds too many stars seeking suicide in many different manners.  The rise to fame without God or the grace of righteousness can become a fall from reality.  This type of suffering comes upon many too quickly and without their personal expectations.  Rejection of their peers or a loss of self-respect can get in the way of self-reliance and cloud the future of success without the help of God.

Many saints who spoke for God’s mysterious pattern of requiring suffering knew, through spiritual experience, that the only way to find this perfect way to the heart of God is a willingness to place themselves at the treachery of life for the path of the suffering of their neighbors.

How does that assist us in relieving the ominous scourge of evil called rejection in its ugliest form?  If we believe that Jesus suffered just for us and our sins, the very fact that you and I are also able to walk beside Christ as he suffered for others so shall we suffer the same for our brothers and sisters as well.  

 Most of us are reluctant to stare at tragedies or uncompromising events, some which appear out of nowhere, and create untold changes to us.  St Thomas More, I’m sure, was taken by surprise by the King’s decision to commit sin and was prepared to speak for the Church against this sin.  He lost his head, literally, placing the law of God first.  St. Joan of Arc also did not believe her Church was so adamant over truth that it couldn’t see through eyes that were blind to sanctity.  She was burned at the stake.  So it is with us centuries later that we must be prepared to suffer, maybe not through ancient capital punishment, but nevertheless our suffering still exists when we believe in God’s truth and will become martyrs in other ways.  Standing up for the Truth and willingly suffering for justice may become difficult, but this might just be our path to heavenly grace and a soul destined for eternal life with Almighty God.

Ralph B. Hathaway