How are we to understand St. Paul in his letter to the Philippians (chapter one verse twenty-nine)? It seems like such a backward statement. In the beginning of the statement it is clearly a positive and holy message that Christ is given to me to believe in him but the immediately after I am asked to suffer FOR Him inasmuch as I hold fast to His precepts. How can this be that I am to mirror my worship with the acceptance of the Cross? To simply put it, it is true my friends. If we are to follow our Lord Jesus Christ, then we must be accepting of the bitter cross that awaits us as it did for Jesus. Now this does not mean we shall suffer the same things as Christ did but it does mean that we will suffer for His namesake. We are given Christ but at a great cost to our own comfort and selfishness. It would not be so if we were not so stooped in sin and the murkiness of Satan's smoke among us. Just like any infection that meets an antibiotic, a great struggling and turmoil ensue until one or the other is utterly defeated within the sick host. If we were sinless as Adam and Eve were before the fall then the giving of Christ to each of us would have no cause for purging nor pain but as it is, we suffer. Suffering can be a tightrope for us all especially if we have not attuned ourselves to God through dedicated and fervent prayers for the gift of understanding. It is terribly easy to look only at the pain and sickness then to fall into despair because the vibrancy of our lives seem to have been snuffed out. Calling out for God's mercy, we can also find ourselves feeling cheated if we are not healed by God's will or to become angry with God if we find that it is apparent that God's will is for our suffering to endure.

Mind the things that are above, not the things that are upon the earth. - Colossians 3:2

Recall, dear brothers and sisters, that we are not promised comfort while we live but rather we should take courage since Christ has overcome the world. We are called to become saints for not only our own sake but for those lost who do not know the way or has been scandalized from knowing the fullness of the truth. An old Catholic saying comes to mind, 'offer it up' as penance for the conversion of sinners, the salvation of souls and that of yourself to come to the knowledge of the truth and protected from error until safely with God in heaven. We can better understand our sufferings if we ponder on Christ and His terrible sufferings. A blameless, sinless Jesus had to withstand one of the most grueling punishments meant for criminals of the foulest nature. He suffered and died in the most terrible way for things that no one else could see but Him. As we do also suffer in silence but if we life up our sufferings in union with Christ's sufferings for the salvation of souls and for the restoration of the Church, then we suffer with merit. This is our opportunity to give to Christ all we have bore for His glory and for our sanctification. Our prayers are most efficacious in our weakest moments,

For which cause I please myself in my infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ. For when I am weak, then am I powerful. - 2 Corinthians 12:10

We need to recognize that in our losses we can gain Christ but we must cooperate with the Holy Spirit and His promptings to enter our hearts and illuminate our minds to His purpose – not ours. Recall that even Jesus prayed to the Father asking for the chalice of His passion to be removed from Him if it at all would be possible – but not according to His will but that of His Father. Therefore, take up thy cross and carry it toward Him who offers joy eternally,

And he said to all: If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. - Luke 9:23
Amen.

How are we to understand St. Paul in his letter to the Philippians (chapter one verse twenty-nine)? It seems like such a backward statement. In the beginning of the statement it is clearly a positive and holy message that Christ is given to me to believe in him but the immediately after I am asked to suffer FOR Him inasmuch as I hold fast to His precepts. How can this be that I am to mirror my worship with the acceptance of the Cross? To simply put it, it is true my friends. If we are to follow our Lord Jesus Christ, then we must be accepting of the bitter cross that awaits us as it did for Jesus. Now this does not mean we shall suffer the same things as Christ did but it does mean that we will suffer for His namesake. We are given Christ but at a great cost to our own comfort and selfishness. It would not be so if we were not so stooped in sin and the murkiness of Satan's smoke among us. Just like any infection that meets an antibiotic, a great struggling and turmoil ensue until one or the other is utterly defeated within the sick host. If we were sinless as Adam and Eve were before the fall then the giving of Christ to each of us would have no cause for purging nor pain but as it is, we suffer. Suffering can be a tightrope for us all especially if we have not attuned ourselves to God through dedicated and fervent prayers for the gift of understanding. It is terribly easy to look only at the pain and sickness then to fall into despair because the vibrancy of our lives seem to have been snuffed out. Calling out for God's mercy, we can also find ourselves feeling cheated if we are not healed by God's will or to become angry with God if we find that it is apparent that God's will is for our suffering to endure.

Mind the things that are above, not the things that are upon the earth. - Colossians 3:2

Recall, dear brothers and sisters, that we are not promised comfort while we live but rather we should take courage since Christ has overcome the world. We are called to become saints for not only our own sake but for those lost who do not know the way or has been scandalized from knowing the fullness of the truth. An old Catholic saying comes to mind, 'offer it up' as penance for the conversion of sinners, the salvation of souls and that of yourself to come to the knowledge of the truth and protected from error until safely with God in heaven. We can better understand our sufferings if we ponder on Christ and His terrible sufferings. A blameless, sinless Jesus had to withstand one of the most grueling punishments meant for criminals of the foulest nature. He suffered and died in the most terrible way for things that no one else could see but Him. As we do also suffer in silence but if we life up our sufferings in union with Christ's sufferings for the salvation of souls and for the restoration of the Church, then we suffer with merit. This is our opportunity to give to Christ all we have bore for His glory and for our sanctification. Our prayers are most efficacious in our weakest moments,

For which cause I please myself in my infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ. For when I am weak, then am I powerful. - 2 Corinthians 12:10

We need to recognize that in our losses we can gain Christ but we must cooperate with the Holy Spirit and His promptings to enter our hearts and illuminate our minds to His purpose – not ours. Recall that even Jesus prayed to the Father asking for the chalice of His passion to be removed from Him if it at all would be possible – but not according to His will but that of His Father. Therefore, take up thy cross and carry it toward Him who offers joy eternally,

And he said to all: If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. - Luke 9:23
Amen.