one cannot without the other

The beautiful mystery of Christ is the incarnation (which I will not expound upon that too much in this post). Jesus Christ is the only person who is fully man and fully divine. He is the sign that Simeon calls a "contradiction" in the temple. Because he was man, he had to suffer as all men do.Part of the Paschal Mystery of salvation is the that Christ became incarnate into this world for suffering so that he might conquer death.

"The Resurrection can't happen without the Crucifixion." This is a question I ponder constantly when trying to discern just who Christ is. It is mind blowing to think that being a follower will not mean rainbows and sunshine but rather suffering and sin. I think this is something very hard for humans to think about, contemplate, and grasp.

I was trying to discuss this with colleagues who I am not really sure understood what I was alluding to.
As humans in today's world...we want instant gratification. Suffering (for any amount of time) is not on the agenda because of the fear within us (fear of inadequacy, death, etc etc), suffering is just plain inconvenient. However, Christ Himself suffered the greatest pain in the world. Being falsely blamed and then nailed to a cross. He suffered abandonment, deception, and death.

Are we better than Christ? No

This means we ourselves are called to suffer...each in our own way.

I am trying to reconcile that in my own head and heart right now. This is because I am thinking of it from a wounded warrior standpoint. How dare I tell a soldier...with full body burns, triple amputation,whatever it may be...that he is on the cross with Christ at that moment and that is the best view of the world. How do I tell him that with Christ, he is not alone in his suffering, and that through Christ he will heal. This is hard because not everybody wants to hear or accept how much Christ loves them and wants to heal them. Some people don't want to be healed. As a nurse, it is my duty to heal (spiritually or physically as much a s possible). How do I show them the joy of the Resurrection when they are in the darkest hour of the crucifixion?

I don't have the answer right now...I may not ever have it. I know when I said this at my training with other healthcare professionals, I became very unpopular for the rest of the training.

But if we don't tell our brothers and sisters in arms what their life is worth, then the war is just senseless violence. And who gives worth (especially in the midst of suffering), than the one who has suffered the most? The one who loved without limits so much that He died. He died so that WE might be eternal.

America was founded on these principles. To give thanks and glory and worship to the Creator. It is a duty to proclaim this to people, especially in their darkest hour. It gives them meaning and a reason for hope that their loss and suffering is not futile. It is Christ who gives meaning, and we are called to be the hands and feet and voice He uses. Suffering is in that process.

Humanae Vitae

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