Friday, April 27, 2007
The Cross First, Then the Crown
Many non-Catholic Christian friends often ask me why the Catholic Church places much focus and emphasis on the sufferings of Christ. I often answer in a teasing manner, "so I suppose you rather attend the funeral of a loved one than be with him/her in the hospital during his/her last (suffering) moments."
Dear brothers and sisters, it is no different when it comes to our Christian worship. How can we experience the real Christian joy on Easter if we do not follow Christ through His sufferings? It is imperative than we have devotion to the passion of Christ; we need to constantly delve profoundly into the sufferings of our Lord. It is only by appreciating the sufferings and death of our Lord that can have joy on Easter. This appreciation is prerequisite.
Craddle Catholics would have lived through many many Lenten Seasons while converts may have lived through much less. However, the number of times is not important and perhaps even insignificant (if one chooses just to follow the motion). Why do I say so? Because there is always something more to learn and appreciate about the Price of our Redemption- gained through the sufferings and death of Jesus Christ. From the instituition of the Most Holy Eucharist on Maundy Thursday- the last meal Jesus would share with His diciples- to the passion and death of our Lord on Good Friday, we can be more convinced of His infinite love for us. Love becomes more real, more spiritual, more refined.
"God so loved the world, that He gave His Only Begotten Son."
When asked by Larry King on CNN why there was suffering in the world, (Protestant Evangelist) Billy Graham simply replied, "Larry, I really don't know." Very often suffering cannot be found in Protestant Theology. The Roman Catholic Church however has the answer! Suffering is the embodiment of God's love. It is also the way back to the Father.
None of us can escape suffering in this life. Everyone from prince to pauper has to suffer. Some more than others. For some suffering comes mostly in a physical form, while others experience emotional or psychological suffering. Some suffer in all the abovementioned areas.
Do we give up hope? Never! Our Lord suffered too. Jesus was like us in all things except sin. In His passion, Jesus shows us how to suffer, he shows us how to accept suffering, he shows us that suffering in itself is not an evil or curse. Most of all, Jesus shows us that suffering is but a key to our own sanctification and salvation. Our sufferings are meritorious for ourselves and others for others because it has been perfected and sanctified by our Lord's sufferings.
Mother McAuley, the foundress of the Sisters of Mercy, once said: "Without the cross, the real crown cannot come."
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, we celebrated the Feast of the Ressurection no less than three weeks ago, did we really take time to remember at great depth, the price of our salvation?
If we didn't then, our joy may have been more of a social joy than that of a spiritual joy. But do not worry, let us continue to keep in mind that the cross has to come before the crown as we await the next Lenten Season, Holy Week, and Easter Tridum.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Jesus, Our King reigns. He wears the crown and will share it with us! God is with us. Amen!
HE IS RISEN! HE HAS CONQUERED SIN AND DEATH!
WE HAVE HOPE! OUR HOPE AND HELP ARE IN THE NAME OF THE LORD!
Labels: Catholic Belief, Easter, Passion, Protestants, Suffering, Thoughts
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