Who on earth wishes to suffer? Suffering often throws people’s lives and beliefs into disarray. It is truly “a pain in the neck” and, since we normally are not masochists, we try to avoid it as much as we can. Not always with success. Science has made terrific progress to alleviate our psychological and physical pains and ailments but, unfortunately, it hasn’t discovered remedy for all the diseases affecting humanity. Besides, there’s the moral suffering we experience and inflict on others. Evil is at work and its effects are rather visible in personal and social sins, like greed, egoism, injustice, violence, corruption and disrespect for human rights.
Such evils, from faith’s point of view, are a sign that God’s Kingdom, although already present in our midst, is far from its completion. Jesus fought against evil in all its forms to set us free. In His brief but intense public life, He spent a great deal of time in His healing ministry, as amply attested by the Gospels. He heals the sick out of compassion and as “a sign of a more profound healing, which is the remission of sins” (cf. Mark 2:1-12).
Jesus’ disciples are commanded to show compassion and to continue His healing and liberating ministry to rid the world of grief and sorrow. Actually, such request is extended to all, as Pope John Paul II wrote in his apostolic letter, Salvifici Doloris: “At one and the same time, Christ has taught man to do good by his suffering and to do good to those who suffer.” Thus, we have the moral duty to do our best to diminish the suffering of God’s people, even though He may remain silent in the face of so many disasters – either natural or man-made.
Suffering is intrinsic to our human condition. And our total and definitive liberation happens only in death. Thus, the great challenge we face is to make our suffering beneficial and meaningful. The immediate result of painful experiences is to appreciate health and wellness as the greatest gift. In our vulnerability, we lower our defense mechanisms and become readier to accept help. Then, the experience of frailty helps us to see with the heart, to empathize with those who are in the same condition and makes us more compassionate, understanding and merciful. The Cross of Jesus makes us brothers and sisters. Our own cross brings us closer to each other.
But, more important than offering opportunities for insight into oneself, for personal growth, and for demonstrating practical love for others, our suffering, as a result of the Incarnation of Jesus, “becomes His suffering, and becomes an expression of redeeming love,” states Comboni Missionary Fr. Francesco Pierli in this month’s special feature. Our suffering acquires transcendence, becomes divine and associates us more intimately to the Passion and redemptive mission of Jesus.
At social level, there’s also a redemptive sacrifice. Along with the sacrifice of Jesus, the sacrifice of so many people, throughout history, has brought change and life – in the form of awareness and progress, freedom and democracy, new hopes and ideals – to entire nations. For instance, in the Philippines, the supreme sacrifice of freedom icon, Ninoy Aquino, was a crucial step forward to topple the Marcos’ dictatorship and make the nation believe again in freedom and peace.
The Cross was “necessary” for Jesus, emphasize the Gospels’ authors. God, in His wisdom, made the Cross an instrument of salvation. Jesus’ crucifixion and death was God’s chosen way to reveal the depth of His love for humanity. The Father didn’t deliver His beloved Son from death, but freed Him in death. May the pain and hardships we endure be also for a greater good – a source of life for us and of redemption for humanity.
