The Royal Road of Suffering
by Christine Manuel
Make no doubt about it. We are all going to suffer. We don’t know when, we don’t know by what means, and it is likely better that way. For the last couple of years, I have undergone a period of severe suffering which involved the death of a family member. Due to events that spiralled out of control, this also led to involvement in the court systems, with police, and with government. This ordeal has taken me on a road that I never thought I would never travel.
St. Thomas A Kempis states, in the spiritual classic, Imitation of Christ...
No matter how you plan things and arrange them to your liking, you still will find something to suffer, either willingly or unwillingly, and so you will always find the cross...If you carry the cross willingly, it will carry you and bring you to your longed for end, where there will be no more suffering – though this will not happen on earth. If you carry it grudgingly, it will become a burden and a heavier weight for you to carry, and yet you must bear it...What Saint in this world was ever without the cross and without suffering? It is not by his own strength, but through the grace of Christ.
Suffering can lead to spiritual maturity. One can lead to the other – but not necessarily. Do you want mature faith? Do you want complete faith? If we want to be like Jesus, then these are lessons that we will learn from the Master. Matthew 16:24 “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. “ How many of us understand that applies to us?What does society think of suffering? Escape. Run. Flee. Avoid it at all costs. If we are in pain, we want a solution and we want it now. And how do we bear our suffering? Are we constantly complaining? Are we paralyzed under the smallest trifle? Do we allow it to consume us? Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong in seeking medical help when we are sick or confiding our sorrows with a Christian friend. We should do that. But sometimes we need an attitude change.
St. John of the Cross also was no stranger to suffering. He was imprisoned by his fellow brothers in his own religious order. When he finally escaped his prison cell after nine months, he cried when he heard the words of this song. “Those who know no suffering in this valley filled with sorrows have no knowledge of good things nor have they tasted love, for suffering is the garb that lovers wear.” St. John of the Cross cried, not because he had suffered, but because he had not suffered enough for the Lord. “When the Holy Father John heard these words being sung, he was profoundly moved and carried out of himself in sorrow because he had not known enough suffering to have knowledge of good things. This caused him so much pain that many tears began to flow.” How differently, the Saints viewed suffering in their lives. And how different we are from the saints!
How to Walk the Royal Road
When we have suffering, we know that God will give us the strength to endure it. 2 Cor. 12: 8-10. “My grace is sufficient for you, for power[a] is made perfect in weakness.” If we bear suffering with strength and patience we will be able to bear it. If we try to do it our own, then we will find it much harder to bear. Jesus will take us to a place where we learn calm and serenity in the midst of trial. Hebrews 5:7-9 “8 Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; 9 and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.” He will show us the way to travel this road – in obedience and submission to the will of God.
Suffering transforms our hearts so that we may love more. We become sensitive to our brothers and sisters who are also suffering. Paul says, “24 I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church.” Colossians 1:24. There is a royal road of suffering – united with the cross of Christ. Will we walk it with the Lord? It is up to us to decide. But, if we do, we will not walk this road alone. Nor will we do it in our own strength. We will walk it side by side with the One who walked it first. And He knows the way - even when we don’t.
by Christine Manuel
St. Thomas A Kempis states, in the spiritual classic, Imitation of Christ...
No matter how you plan things and arrange them to your liking, you still will find something to suffer, either willingly or unwillingly, and so you will always find the cross...If you carry the cross willingly, it will carry you and bring you to your longed for end, where there will be no more suffering – though this will not happen on earth. If you carry it grudgingly, it will become a burden and a heavier weight for you to carry, and yet you must bear it...What Saint in this world was ever without the cross and without suffering? It is not by his own strength, but through the grace of Christ.
Suffering can lead to spiritual maturity. One can lead to the other – but not necessarily. Do you want mature faith? Do you want complete faith? If we want to be like Jesus, then these are lessons that we will learn from the Master. Matthew 16:24 “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. “ How many of us understand that applies to us?What does society think of suffering? Escape. Run. Flee. Avoid it at all costs. If we are in pain, we want a solution and we want it now. And how do we bear our suffering? Are we constantly complaining? Are we paralyzed under the smallest trifle? Do we allow it to consume us? Don’t get me wrong, there is nothing wrong in seeking medical help when we are sick or confiding our sorrows with a Christian friend. We should do that. But sometimes we need an attitude change.
St. John of the Cross also was no stranger to suffering. He was imprisoned by his fellow brothers in his own religious order. When he finally escaped his prison cell after nine months, he cried when he heard the words of this song. “Those who know no suffering in this valley filled with sorrows have no knowledge of good things nor have they tasted love, for suffering is the garb that lovers wear.” St. John of the Cross cried, not because he had suffered, but because he had not suffered enough for the Lord. “When the Holy Father John heard these words being sung, he was profoundly moved and carried out of himself in sorrow because he had not known enough suffering to have knowledge of good things. This caused him so much pain that many tears began to flow.” How differently, the Saints viewed suffering in their lives. And how different we are from the saints!
How to Walk the Royal Road
When we have suffering, we know that God will give us the strength to endure it. 2 Cor. 12: 8-10. “My grace is sufficient for you, for power[a] is made perfect in weakness.” If we bear suffering with strength and patience we will be able to bear it. If we try to do it our own, then we will find it much harder to bear. Jesus will take us to a place where we learn calm and serenity in the midst of trial. Hebrews 5:7-9 “8 Although he was a Son, he learned obedience through what he suffered; 9 and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.” He will show us the way to travel this road – in obedience and submission to the will of God.
Suffering transforms our hearts so that we may love more. We become sensitive to our brothers and sisters who are also suffering. Paul says, “24 I am now rejoicing in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am completing what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church.” Colossians 1:24. There is a royal road of suffering – united with the cross of Christ. Will we walk it with the Lord? It is up to us to decide. But, if we do, we will not walk this road alone. Nor will we do it in our own strength. We will walk it side by side with the One who walked it first. And He knows the way - even when we don’t.
by Christine Manuel
