Through our willingness to suffer whatever life demands of us we become disciples of Christ. We often feel that we have much to suffer. Saint Paul however is convinced that the sufferings of this present world cannot be compared with the glory that will be revealed in us. - Rom. 8:18 -

That is why he preached Christ crucified. - 1Cor. 1:23 - He wanted to fill up what was still lacking in the sufferings of Christ. - Col. 1:24 - This union with Christ is deeper than we think. Jesus Christ came into this world to redeem us. He laid the foundation for this in his life and suffering. The redemption is not completed.

Christ wants to continue his work of redemption through human beings. He wants to become human again in us, until we have become "alter Christus", that is, a new Christ on earth. This can be realised only in human beings who open themselves to Christ to such a degree that his grace can flow through them to others. This can happen only in the measure in which we let go of ourselves in order to become wholly permeable. This is a first condition. Another is to become defenceless to such a degree that sin can flow through us and can be accepted by Christ. When the willingness to be open to unredeemed darkness without defending ourselves grows in us then Christ can receive it and redeem it.

Perhaps, these few sentences make clear what a deep union with Christ can be created through suffering of what is unredeemed. Jesus Christ redeemed us by his suffering. He continues to suffer in us, until we are totally redeemed. His deepest pain is not caused by our sin, but by our interior resistance to this process of redemption.

We want to give him our best, we want to become wholly good people for him, but we forget to give him our worst also. He asks us to suffer our sins through him and with him. Anyone who wishes to go this way should strive enduringly to keep his willingness to suffer alive.

BY REV. FR. FRANZ JALICS  S.J.

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Sunday, May 24, 2009

I have through years of reading, pondering, reflecting and contemplating, the 3 things that last; FAITH . HOPE . LOVE and I would like to made available my sharing from the many thinkers, authors, scholars and theologians whose ideas and thoughts I have borrowed. God be with them always. Amen!

I STILL HAVE MANY THINGS TO SAY TO YOU BUT THEY WOULD BE TOO MUCH FOR YOU NOW. BUT WHEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH COMES, HE WILL LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH, SINCE HE WILL NOT BE SPEAKING AS FROM HIMSELF, BUT WILL SAY ONLY WHAT HE HAS LEARNT; AND HE WILL TELL YOU OF THE THINGS TO COME.

HE WILL GLORIFY ME, SINCE ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. EVERYTHING THE FATHER HAS IS MINE; THAT IS WHY I SAID: ALL HE TELLS YOU WILL BE TAKEN FROM WHAT IS MINE. - JOHN 16:12-15 -