Some Pondering

Everyone experiences some kind of suffering in one form or another – whether it be spiritual, physical, emotional or mental. Oftentimes it can be that we suffer in all these categories at once because as humans we are part spiritual, physical, emotional and mental. So if we experience pain one part, we must treat that part but we must not neglect to treat the other parts as well. For example, physical pain can affect our emotional, mental and spiritual spheres too. I believe (and I can’t say I always do this) taking our pains to the Lord and giving it to Him is the best remedy for problems. Jesus took on all physical, emotional, mental and spiritual suffering – He experienced every kind of suffering – and took on Himself with His death on the Cross. Consequently, there is not any human suffering that Jesus hasn’t been through but He took all that suffering and then rose from the dead; thereby He destroyed the power of sin and made suffering meritorious. When we pick up our cross/our sufferings and unite them with Jesus’ suffering on the Cross, it is like we walk the road to Calvary with Christ in the hope of rising to new life with Him in Heaven.


As Catholics we have a unique privilege of attending a liturgical service called the Mass. The Mass (in Catholic theology) is the “unbloody sacrifice” of Christ’s passion, death and resurrection. The priest is an "alter Christus" (in Latin means "another Christ) and acting in the person of Christ, he transforms the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ with the words of consecration. We believe as Catholics that Christ becomes truly present on the altar at the moment the priest speaks those words. If you are Catholic, the Mass is an opportune time to offer up your sufferings and unite them to Jesus’ sufferings. You don’t have to be Catholic to unite your sufferings with Christ. Christ died for everyone, not just Catholics. I just feel blessed to be baptized into the Catholic Church and want to share the riches of the Church with my readers. The biggest treasure, being the Eucharist.

Though we cannot see Christ in the Eucharist with our physical eyes, we can see Him with the eyes of faith. This takes an act of Faith on each of our parts. We have the unique privilege to receive Him in the Eucharist at every Mass - whether its only on Sunday or daily is up to each individual Catholic. This is a gift for which we should be truly grateful! In our family we were all trained by my parents to go to Mass daily, just from Mom's and Dad's example of going themselves - not by jamming it down our throats. Most (if not all) of my siblings have made going to Mass daily a part of their lives when they can find the time.