Offer It Up

“40 The other, however, rebuking him, said in reply, "Have you no fear of God, for you are subject to the same condemnation? 41 And indeed, we have been condemned justly, for the sentence we received corresponds to our crimes, but this man has done nothing criminal." 42 Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." 43 He replied to him, "Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” Lk 23:40-43

Now, read 42-43 again.

What did you notice? Did you perhaps notice that this criminal was hanging on the cross next to Jesus and suffering (though probably not from the same beating) from the same horrific death, and even when Christ acknowledged the criminal’s faith in Him and accepted his faith, Christ did not free him from the suffering. Christ allowed the man’s suffering to continue. Christ allowed the man to continue to share in Christ’s suffering. “…he still experienced much suffering after he surrendered his life to Jesus. He hung on the cross for a several hours longer and had his legs broken. Jesus could have easily had him taken down from the cross to remove his suffering the moment the thief surrendered to Jesus.” (http://www.davidmacd.com/catholic/why_catholics_love_suffering.htm)

Too often we view suffering as a bad thing and a curse, but without suffering we could not “Be put through the furnace as gold and made pure” (Wis. 3:5-6). Our trials are lessons and opportunities to grow forming us into the people our Lord desire us to be. When we exercise and work out, our muscles break and mend in order to become stronger, so do our souls. God allows us to suffer and be broken at times in order that we may become stronger. “…it is not necessary always to be consoled… if this were true, neither St. Catherine of Siena, St. Teresa, nor St. Paul would have served the Lord well” (Padre Pio, Letters, Vol. 3, 932).

How and why have you suffered in the past? What did you learn from it? How are you different? There is no way that you are the same person you were before your suffering. Why shouldn’t we be thankful for these opportunities and gifts from God that He offers us to allow us to learn and grow in? Christ suffered horribly, as we should be fully aware of right now in this holiest of seasons. He allowed the criminal beside him to continue suffering with him. “Offer it up.” It’s an old saying, but one that our world should bring back. Whenever we suffer or go through trials we should graciously “offer it up” for God’s glory and be thankful that He is allowing us these opportunities. Thankful that He is allowing us to suffer, though not as severely as Christ died, but it’s still suffering.

During this holy season, especially these last few days we have been able to “relive” the worst of our suffering in our faith- the suffering that we cause our Lord. “Every time we sin, we offend eternity, because God is eternal, living in every moment of all time.” (Fr. E. Culler). BUT because of the suffering, Christ was able to overcome death for us and raise us up with Him. Truly, this is why we should rejoice in our suffering.

Love and warm wishes!
Joyous Easter!