20160915 SHARING IN CHRIST’S REDEMPTIVE SUFFERING WITH MARY
Reading
1, Hebrews 5:7-9
7
During his life on earth,
he offered up prayer and
entreaty, with loud cries and with tears, to the one who had the power to save
him from death, and, winning a hearing by his reverence,
8 he
learnt obedience, Son though he was, through his sufferings;
9 when
he had been perfected, he became for all who obey him the source of eternal
salvation
Responsorial
Psalm, Psalms 31:2-3, 3-4, 5-6, 15-16, 20
2 turn
your ear to me, make haste. Be for me a rock-fastness, a fortified citadel to
save me.
3 You
are my rock, my rampart; true to your name, lead me and guide me!
4 Draw
me out of the net they have spread for me, for you are my refuge;
6 you
hate those who serve useless idols; but my trust is in Yahweh:
16 let
your face shine on your servant, save me in your faithful love.
20 Safe
in your presence you hide them, far from human plotting, shielding them in your
tent, far from contentious tongues.
Gospel,
John 19:25-27
25 Near
the cross of Jesus stood his
mother and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala.
26
Seeing his mother and the disciple whom he
loved standing near her, Jesus said to
his mother, 'Woman, this is your son.'
27 Then
to the disciple he
said, 'This is your mother.' And from that hour the disciple took
her into his home.
SHARING
IN CHRIST’S REDEMPTIVE SUFFERING WITH MARY
Yesterday
we celebrated the Feast of the Triumph of the Holy Cross. The corollary
to the Feast of the Triumph of the Holy Cross appropriately is the Feast of Our
Lady of Sorrows. More than any other, Mary has been chosen to share
most intimately in the sufferings of her Son. She was chosen to share in
His passion. Whereas Jesus suffered in the body, notwithstanding his
soul, Mary suffered in the soul for Christ and with Christ. This
suffering is the fulfillment of the prophecy of Simeon when he said, “You see
this child: he is destined for the fall and for the rising of many in Israel,
destined to be a sign that is rejected – and a sword will pierce your own soul
too – so that the secret thoughts of many may be laid bare.” Indeed, it
is for good reason the Church even honours her with the sublime title of
“co-redemptrix.”
How did she share in the
sufferings and the passion of Christ? As a mother, she would be most
identified with Christ. She carried Him in her womb for nine months and
was with Him day and night for 30 years of His life. She knew Jesus’ mind
and heart. She was with Him in everything, including doing the will of
God. That is why at Cana in Galilee, she told the servants, “Do whatever
He tells you.”
From the beginning of the
life of Jesus till His death, or rather from the womb to the tomb, Mary
suffered with Christ. At her conception of Jesus, she was misunderstood
by Joseph. Upon the birth of Christ, she had to flee with Jesus to Egypt
because of the persecution. During Jesus’ teenage years, she had to deal
with the angst of a growing boy finding His identity. When Jesus was 30
years old, she had to bear the pain of separation when He entered the
ministry. When He was doing well in the ministry, she had to suffer the
pain of being misunderstood and rejected by closed relatives and friends
because they thought He was mad. When He was arrested, scourged, mocked,
ridiculed and taunted, she saw and bore the pain with Jesus. On the way
to Mount Calvary, she suffered the pain of seeing her Son in a most pitiable
state, for He was like a criminal condemned to an innocent death. At the
cross, she had to bear the sight of the nails being driven one by one into His
body. Finally, when she thought everything was over, a lance was pierced
into His heart. The sight of this piercing would have been the last straw
for Mary. When Mary carried Jesus’ lifeless body in her arms, how sad and
sorrowful Mary must have felt. But through all these events, she stood by
Jesus all the way as a mother would for her children, even standing underneath
the cross when all, including Christ’s closest friends abandoned the Lord.
In the
light of this, we are now called to bring Mary to our home, that is, to share
in Christ’s suffering just as she did. This was what the Lord instructed
the beloved disciple who represented the Christian community, the Church.
“Seeing his mother and the disciple he loved standing hear her, Jesus said to
his mother, ‘Woman, this is your son.’ Then to the disciple he said, ‘This is
your mother.’ And from that moment the disciple made a place for her in his
home.” (Jn 19:26f
)
)
Why is it necessary to
share in Christ’s suffering? St Paul gives us the reason, “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.” (Col 1:24
) In other words, we are called to share in Christ’s
suffering for our redemption and the redemption of the world. This is
what we call, redemptive suffering.
) In other words, we are called to share in Christ’s
suffering for our redemption and the redemption of the world. This is
what we call, redemptive suffering.
How does redemptive
suffering work? In the first place, it works for us. We all need
salvation. We need to be purified in love and in truth. Even
Jesus had to learn obedience through suffering. “Although he was a Son,
he learned obedience through what he suffered; and having been made
perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.”
(Heb 5:8f
) Only when we do the will of God, like Christ, can we
find peace and integrity. Suffering therefore is a means by which we
resign ourselves to the will of God. It is fidelity to God even unto
death that brings us salvation. Through suffering, we learn to depend on
God and not simply on ourselves. We realize our position in this world
and are not deceived into thinking that we are so great or powerful.
In the face of illnesses and tragedy in our lives, we are helpless. So
suffering can help us in our conversion and growth in holiness.
) Only when we do the will of God, like Christ, can we
find peace and integrity. Suffering therefore is a means by which we
resign ourselves to the will of God. It is fidelity to God even unto
death that brings us salvation. Through suffering, we learn to depend on
God and not simply on ourselves. We realize our position in this world
and are not deceived into thinking that we are so great or powerful.
In the face of illnesses and tragedy in our lives, we are helpless. So
suffering can help us in our conversion and growth in holiness.
But suffering can also help
the salvation of others. It can awaken their conscience and to the
illusions of this world. This is what the Prophet Simeon said, “You see
this child: he is destined for the fall and for the rising of many in Israel,
destined to be a sign that is rejected … so that the secret thoughts of many
may be laid bare.” Jesus by His passion, death and resurrection will
expose the secret motives of all of us. For those who cheat themselves,
they will destroy themselves. For those who respond to Christ, they will
rise from the pit.
Our suffering can edify
those who see us suffer with joy and faith. If we suffer patiently,
cheerfully and cooperate with the grace of God, using the means given to us, we
can inspire others who are sick and even the healthy. By seeing us suffer
positively and in the way we carry our crosses of life with fortitude, patience
and hope, others in their trials will also find strength to carry on. As
St James urges us, “My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of
any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing
of your faith produces endurance; and let endurance have its full effect,
so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2-4
) This is true when we suffer patiently and
unjustly. Innocent suffering transforms the world. This is what St
Peter said, “Do not repay evil for evil or abuse for abuse; but, on the
contrary, repay with a blessing. It is for this that you were called – that you
might inherit a blessing (1 Pt 3:9
)
) This is true when we suffer patiently and
unjustly. Innocent suffering transforms the world. This is what St
Peter said, “Do not repay evil for evil or abuse for abuse; but, on the
contrary, repay with a blessing. It is for this that you were called – that you
might inherit a blessing (1 Pt 3:9)
This is particularly true
with respect to forgiveness of those who have hurt us or wronged us. We
are called to be magnanimous and forgive them the way Jesus forgave us at the
cross. Not only did He forgive us, but He made excuses for us and prayed
for our forgiveness. In forgiving others, we show them the mercy of God,
and our faith that justice, love and life will triumph over injustice, hatred
and death. This is the prayer of the psalmist. He said, “Into your
hands I commend my spirit; you will redeem me, O Lord, O faithful
God.” So through our compassion and forgiveness, we will bring
healing and win over our strayed brothers and sisters to the Lord.
Hence,
if we find ourselves suffering for the wrong reasons and suffering without joy,
we need to pray for wisdom so that we can understand how suffering can be
redemptive for us and for others. But we must suffer in faith with
cheerfulness, patience and hope. St James says, “If any of you is lacking
in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will
be given you.” (James 1:5
)
)
Through prayer and
contemplation on the Crucified Lord who led the way in suffering and
contemplation on our Lady of Sorrows, we will find strength and inspiration to
join them in suffering for the redemption of the world, beginning with ours. As
we contemplate on their lives, we too will learn to suffer with others the way
Mary suffered with Jesus. We come to realize that the greatest form
of charity to those who are suffering goes beyond simply helping them
financially or physically. But it is to stand by them and being with them
to give them moral and spiritual support. This is what they need most in
these times to help them find the strength to conquer their weaknesses and
discipline themselves in a life of virtue and holiness. Helping them to
do the task is not the best way, but to give them the strength to overcome the
difficulty is even greater. Beyond mere empathy, we suffer with them by
being identified with their sufferings as we carry their infirmities on our
bodies like the suffering servant. We need to be in union with them in
mind and heart and in emotions if we are to give them the strength to endure
their trials. By identifying ourselves with them, we will be more
compassionate and understanding. Most of all, we suffer for them by being
of service whenever we can. At times we might have to suffer in silence because
we are unappreciated or misunderstood. To suffer for doing good is what
innocent suffering is all about. In this way, our suffering will indeed
be truly redemptive for ourselves and for others.
Written by The Most Rev William Goh Roman Catholic Archbishop of
Singapore © All Rights Reserved
No comments:
Post a Comment