by Will Reaves, Director of Faith Formation and Intergenerational Catechesis
I suggested last week that one of the best markers of our Christian faith is how well we imitate Christ. And most of us, at least in theory, have no trouble agreeing that we should imitate Christ’s concern for the poor and the outcast, His sense of justice, and His teachings of love. But there is one particular teaching where even His closest disciples balk. Jesus explains that He will have to suffer for our sake, and for the sake of His Mission. The suffering and death Jesus underwent was not a consequence of His ministry; it was His ministry. By His Death He redeemed us, and by His rising He won for us eternal life. By His suffering, He showed the depth of His love for us.
Peter and the other disciples did not understand this teaching at first, so it should not surprise us when we struggle with it too. We live in an age where everything we do is meant to reduce our suffering and increase our comfort. If we have to suffer or even struggle for something, we treat this as a sign that we need better methods or technology; the assumption is always that suffering is a problem that we can ultimately fix. Of course, seeking to reduce suffering in the world is a laudable goal. But our focus on our own comfort can cause us to forget our calling to love and care for our fellow humans. For to truly love another is to open oneself up to the possibility of rejection and suffering. Love—willing the good of the other—always entails some form of sacrifice, as we die to our own needs and desires for the sake of our beloved. Jesus’ sacrificial death on the cross is the ultimate sign of this. There is no better demonstration of love in all creation.
Challenge: How can we better love, even at the risk of experiencing suffering? Do we value what God values (other people) enough to sacrifice for Him, and for them?