“Redemptive Suffering” | Overcoming Obstacles to Living the Foundation

 

~ January 15, 2021 ~
 



Father,

behold the suffering of your Son, Jesus.
I lift him up to you.
Although I’m weak and don’t have much to offer by myself,
dear Father, your Son’s merits are infinite.
So, behold, to your Son’s suffering,
I unite my own, 
and I ask you to save all those poor, 
Unrepentant sinners who have no one else to pray for them.
Yes, Father, I believe that your Son’s
infinite merits can accomplish this.

Amen. 


“Redemptive Suffering”

 

Commentary & Excerpts from the Book of Fr Michael Gaitley:

“Consoling the Heart of Jesus” 

This topic of redemptive suffering is probably one of my favorite theological explanations of the meaning of suffering. Suffering is real; we see it everywhere. Each of us experiences suffering in many different ways, and on so many levels. Fr. Michael Gaitley demonstrates the fear of suffering as an obstacle that we have to overcome in order to adhere to our calling to console Jesus – to be his friend. Fr Gaitley goes on further: it is not about escaping from our suffering, but embracing our suffering to be Jesus’ friend – as a way to console him. Moreover, it is through suffering (pain offered; pain sacrificed) that we are saved; it is through suffering that we are redeemed. Everyone suffers; and all are called to console, be a friend of, and co-redeem with the Lord.  

“In his great goodness and mercy, Jesus allows us to participate in his redeeming action in the world. In fact, he needs us. In a very real sense, he needs our suffering to be united with his in order to save souls… Jesus’ suffering is objectively enough to save everyone, and the graces his suffering merits are available to all. In this sense, there’s absolutely nothing lacking in his suffering. Yet there’s a kind of ‘lack’ in Christ’s suffering in the sense that not everyone subjectively accepts his grace and mercy. Moreover, there’s also a lack in his suffering when people don’t fully accept his grace and mercy, that is, when they do so halfheartedly and with reservations and conditions. It’s precisely in such situations where people reject or don’t fully accept God’s grace that our sufferings and bold prayers can come in to ‘complete what is lacking.’ 

…Our prayers and little sufferings really can have great power to move souls – so let’s not waste them” (74-75).


“I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I complete what is lacking in the suffering of Christ for the sake of his body, the Church…”

St. Paul | Col 1:24


Personal Response: Daily Journal

 

Daily Goal: to turn my suffering into a gift of love.

 

Private comments, reflections, and thoughts are welcomed. Email Fr. JC @ PresentationMedia.

Marian Missionaries of Divine Mercy. 
Purchase the book of Fr. Michael Gaitley.