The Suffering Christian
“The Son of God suffered unto the death, not that men might not suffer, but that their sufferings might be like His.” (George MacDonald, Unspoken Sermons, First Series)
We should lack trust in a God only of the Sun that has not experienced death of His Son. For the human experience has so much to do with pain and suffering. The cross however gives the divine legitimacy for relationship, not that God needed approval, but that God’s actions demonstrated solidarity with His creation. The struggles in this life will never go away, so He decided neither would He.
Easter is the climax of reality and the ultimate purpose of the suffering Christ. We have a God that refuses to leave us; a cross is a small thing indeed to get between His children and the Maker of Life. Yet, He refuses in some way to come off the cross when we are still on it. Christ’s suffering and how we participate in this is the only way we can get to the Easter resurrection hope. He is specifically on this side to make way on the other. Easter resurrection joy only comes through the suffering Christ; the darkness gives way to light because it simply is inadequate.
In the end we realize how frail this physical world is compared to what is beyond. The images of Pope John Paul II sitting in his chair during his last Easter with us, his head leaning on the crucifix, can not easily escape memory. We learn from suffering and it is through others that God speaks. A Pole influenced human hearts and nations because he first allowed God to change his own. John Paul II’s participating goal in history was not John Paul II; he knew we are only to reflect what is beyond, moons only reflect the rays of the sun. The Pope’s Christian authenticity in suffering was the direct result of daily allowing himself to be icon of the One that he served, the One that also suffered in humanity.
“The Son of God suffered unto the death, not that men might not suffer, but that their sufferings might be like His.” Recently we have been reminded, in a very public way, that suffering allowed transforms the disciple and can lead to a deeper purpose and meaning beyond it. Easter resurrection, joy and hope are the direct result of first Christ’s death. The life that is being created in us will only be completed when our “sufferings might be like His,” when we reflect what has created us has power over death. What has created humanity believes in humanity.
“The Son of God suffered unto the death, not that men might not suffer, but that their sufferings might be like His.” (George MacDonald, Unspoken Sermons, First Series)
We should lack trust in a God only of the Sun that has not experienced death of His Son. For the human experience has so much to do with pain and suffering. The cross however gives the divine legitimacy for relationship, not that God needed approval, but that God’s actions demonstrated solidarity with His creation. The struggles in this life will never go away, so He decided neither would He.
Easter is the climax of reality and the ultimate purpose of the suffering Christ. We have a God that refuses to leave us; a cross is a small thing indeed to get between His children and the Maker of Life. Yet, He refuses in some way to come off the cross when we are still on it. Christ’s suffering and how we participate in this is the only way we can get to the Easter resurrection hope. He is specifically on this side to make way on the other. Easter resurrection joy only comes through the suffering Christ; the darkness gives way to light because it simply is inadequate.
In the end we realize how frail this physical world is compared to what is beyond. The images of Pope John Paul II sitting in his chair during his last Easter with us, his head leaning on the crucifix, can not easily escape memory. We learn from suffering and it is through others that God speaks. A Pole influenced human hearts and nations because he first allowed God to change his own. John Paul II’s participating goal in history was not John Paul II; he knew we are only to reflect what is beyond, moons only reflect the rays of the sun. The Pope’s Christian authenticity in suffering was the direct result of daily allowing himself to be icon of the One that he served, the One that also suffered in humanity.
“The Son of God suffered unto the death, not that men might not suffer, but that their sufferings might be like His.” Recently we have been reminded, in a very public way, that suffering allowed transforms the disciple and can lead to a deeper purpose and meaning beyond it. Easter resurrection, joy and hope are the direct result of first Christ’s death. The life that is being created in us will only be completed when our “sufferings might be like His,” when we reflect what has created us has power over death. What has created humanity believes in humanity.
posted by Kenneth W. Michael | 2:18 PM
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