Why is it that when we speak of God's love we always leave out the reason for that love ie: the Passion? I realize that Lent has passed, Christ has been Resurrected, and we are now sharing with the Church of Christ in Ordinary time, however, I wanted to address this issue, and get some feedback from the lot of you.

I have been seeing a lot of books, journals, pamphlets, etc. that stresses God's forgiveness and love, but almost in a way that is to keep us from our own sufferings, as though God would never allow the one He loves such great suffering. However, I think one look at the crucifix and we can all come to realize that one comes to love God even more by the suffering that one does, to purify, in a sense, our desires, passions, attachments and the like. Bl. Padre Pio said, "...let us be careful not to separate the cross from the love for Jesus: otherwise the one without the other would become an unbearable weight for our own weakness." (Letters I: 601-602).

We all want to be loved, and we all want to be forgiven, but none of us wants to suffer to get there, not me, not you, not anyone, yet this is the road that takes us to Heaven. We are all called to walk the road to Calvary, carrying with us our burdens, our pains, our hurts, and our desolations, to ultimately, as St. Alphonsus has said, "nail my heart to Your feet, that it may ever remain there, to love You, and never leave You again." (The Way of the Cross: Station 11, pg 15) Yet, so few really want to take the initiative to do such a thing. Why? perhaps because it makes us the most vulnerable and weakest we could ever be, giving up our entire selves that Christ may fully live within us. We are in those moments aware of everything that is displeasing to both us and God Himself, truly living as a child completely reliant upon his Father for strength, hope, faith, and love. In a sense, we become both completely empty and completely full, brimming with sheer love, knowing "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20)

We are all afraid to suffer, it is true, no one wants to relinquish all they are, we all want our "indentity." However, it is when we relinquish this "identity" that we are truly "defined."

Yet, it goes further, in this total abandonment God is most merciful to us, because He realizes that we are open to His mercy, begging Him as little children, full of tears, contrition, and humility. In fact, I believe this is the reason for the Divine Mercy Chaplet, it is God's way of granting us His Mercy one last time before He will be ready to scold His poor children. However, notice something, His Mercy comes the same way Mercy came before, through the Passion. "Eternal Father, I offer you the body, blood, soul, and divinity, of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord, Jesus Christ. In antonement for our sins, and those of the whole world. For the sake of His sorrowful passion. Have Mercy on us, and on the whole world." (From the Diary of St. Faustina). Seems only fitting that the greatest act of love is also the way in which we can be "saved" again.

We are all called to suffer, some more than others, but suffering is the only way in which we can reach our final destination. We must be willing to love and be merciful, yes, but we must do it always mindful of the Cross of Christ and the sufferings He and His Holy Mother endured. Let us never forget Her, and learn from Her the way in which one is to bear sufferings humbly always untiting them to Her Son's five wounds while meditating on Her seven sorrows.

May we all hang upon the cross of Christ saying "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." and, for Him to say to us, "Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise."

God Bless

-- Brian (sacerdos@hotpop.com), May 21, 2002

Answers

Brian,

I cannot believe you have written this. I feel the exact same way!!! In fact, much of what I have been reading, and hearing lately has (coincidentally) been about the Lord's Passion. Your letter is confirmation. I think God is speaking to me about this. We are so focused on OUR self-satisfaction and avoidance of pain. We are a self-centered world. Look at the Saints lives. Not a one of them was wrapped up in self-pity, and they all went through incredible ordeals. They are our role models. I just watched a video on Theresa Nuemann, and yesterday I was reading about the stigmata (not intending to, just coincidentally). The testimony of these people really drives home the point. We see Christ on the Cross at our church or around our neck, but we forget how He got there. In the testimony of Theresa and others who have undergone the stigmata, they strapped our Lords arm to the cross while others kneel on his chest and arm. They hammered the first tri-edged nail into his right palm. Then they went to nail his left hand, but realized that the pre-made hole did not line up with his palm. So, they wrenched his arm out of its socket, while others kneeled on his chest and arm. They then finished the nailing. When focussing on the passion, forget about your surroundings, put yourself in Christ’s body before He is up on the Cross, and follow Him as He falls three times, as He is placed on the Cross where the soldiers can mark out the schematic for where He will be nailed, and then try to realize the pain He suffered for all of us (murderers, rapists, druggies, atheists, etc.).

As I walked home from school yesterday (my second to last final prior to graduation from College), I was persuaded to THANK God for my suffering. Because it is only in suffering that we will truly be appreciative of the Gift of Heaven. It is only in suffering that we may come to know the real meaning of Salvation. How can one claim to be saved, if they, at the same time, believe that they have no need to be saved.

I would encourage others to read about Theresa Nuemann, and Padre Pio. But not to focus on their lives exteriorly, rather there lives as an outward sign of the suffering Christ went through for us. It is foolish to think that we can Love God, without understanding Gods great Love for us. So great was it, that He allowed His only Son to suffer and die for a wretch like me.

May the Passion of Christ bring us to a better understanding of our roles as Christians and to an everlasting live with our Heavenly Family, Amen!

In Christ

-- Jake Huether (jake.huether@lamrc.com), May 21, 2002.

Thank you, Brian, for recommending this to me. I'm surprised I missed it the first time around. But I'm glad I've seen it. It's a good reminder to all of us. My pain is NOTHING next to the pain He went through. And that He did it willingly.........

Well, thank you both for your words and insight. You're good men and I'm sure God is well pleased.

God bless~

-- Jackiea (sorry@dontlikespam.com), June 05, 2002.

The entire thing can be summarized as "Entering through the NARROW DOOR".

Greetings

-- Xavier (xavier_david24@yahoo.com), June 05, 2002.

I was reading this website last nite (HERE) and I've been reading it again this morning. It's really very interesting. It has the gospels on His Passion, commentaries on them, historical and archaelogical aspects, etc.

Also, I wanted to thank Chris, Brian and Jake again. I fell asleep last night reflecting on His Passion, praying for the conversion of sinners, praying for the members of this forum, praying for Chris's health and just thinking of God, Jesus and Mary. And God was the very first thing I thought of when I woke up this morning. That was a nice feeling. :)

God bless~

-- Jackiea (sorry@dontlikespam.com), June 05, 2002.

Jackiea

Ah, My favorite part of the life of Christ. It is sad, yes, but full of LOVE from Christ to us. I have always looked forward to hearing the Passion narratives during Passion Sunday (Palm) and holy week. It is from what I have determined to be the greatest gift Christ gave us. HIMSELF, TOTALLY.

Blessings

-- Fred Bishop (FCB@heartland.com), June 05, 2002.

I think it is a part of His life that I do think about more than the rest of it. That and the Ascension but I don't think I had adaquately reflected on it....if that makes sense.

God Bless~

-- Jackiea (sorry@dontlikespam.com), June 05, 2002.

Jackiea,

I would recommend you also check this site out, it is quite beautiful and inspiring.

God Bless and I am glad my little bit was able to help

-- Brian (sacerdos@hotpop.com), June 05, 2002.