Redemptive Suffering Pt. 2

There could be no better time than now, amidst the Coronavirus outbreak to increase awareness on the purpose and power of redemptive suffering. Let’s turn to God and allow Him to transform this extended Restricted Movement Order into a Redemptive Movement Order! For those of you reading this and have actually contracted the virus, don’t let this sickness and suffering go to waste, offer it up to Jesus. For those of us who are stuck at home, let’s offer up our little daily sufferings and sacrifices amidst being stuck at home to Jesus.

If you are wondering what is “redemptive suffering” all about and “offering

it up to Jesus” really mean, do check out Pt. 1 of this edition by clicking the link below:

https://pauljulianose.wixsite.com/website-2/post/redemptive-suffering

The harsh reality is that it is challenging and difficult to "offer it up to Jesus" but there is good news! You are not alone and not to be alone in this irreplaceable service of redemptive suffering. Now this applies all the more especially since you are either stuck in the hospital or at home. You are not alone because there is the communion of Saints, both, the Heavenly and Earthly Saints. The Saints in Heaven at one point of time that is, during their Earthly Pilgrimage, endured a great deal of suffering. Therefore, they definitely know what it's like and they are not looking down on you but rooting for you to be victorious by offering up your sufferings to Jesus! As Scott Hahn says, " The Saints in Heaven and closer to us than we are to them". Each time you feel alone especially when the magnitude of suffering is great, remember that the room you are in is full of Heavenly Saints and a good number of them have went through what you are currently going through.

In addition, Angels, especially your guardian angels are with you! St. John Bosco once said, "Ignore the devil and do not be afraid of him: He trembles and flees at the sight of your Guardian Angel". The devil will try to creep in and feed your mind with all sorts of lies especially when you wish to offer up your sufferings to the Lord but your guardian angel will definitely have your back. Furthermore, the three Archangels will be by your side! May St. Gabriel reveal to you God's wonderful plan and purpose for your life, St. Raphael extend the healing rays of Jehovah-Rapha to heal you emotionally and spiritually and St. Michael cover and protect you from contracting this virus, from the flaming arrows of the evil one aimed at you.

As for the Saints on Earth, I highly encourage you to belong to a community of believers who can affirm, encourage and remind you of the promises of God. I had avoided writing this article for more than 3 months (because of the challenges it poses to my internal sufferings of fear and trauma) but God gently reminded me and encouraged me to do so through personal adoration time and it was then confirmed by a community of believers I belong to. From that point, I took 3 weeks to write this article and the process involved a great deal of struggle but once again, it was alleviated by the support, encouragement and reminders of the promises of God which I received from them - the community of believers. You will need this kind of support to be reminded that "There are far better things ahead than we leave behind". Hold on to the promise and reality that 3 days after the Crucifixion comes the Resurrection! On that same note, be of support to others who are in this great movement of redemptive suffering. Now that most of us are confined to our own homes, let’s step up the prayers for each other and make use of technology to get in touch, affirm and encourage each other in this truly trying time!

On top of all that, the Mother of All Saints and the Queen of Holy Angels is with you! According to St. Louis De Monfort, Mother Mary makes the crosses that we bear sweet and light, "because that good Mother, all full of grace and of the unction of the Holy Spirit, prepares her servants’ crosses with so much maternal sweetness and pure love as to make them gladly acceptable, no matter how bitter they may be in themselves". Truly, it is much simpler to offer up our sufferings in union with the intentions of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus through the Immaculate Heart of Mary! After all, it was on the Cross that Jesus entrusted Mary to be our Mother, how fitting! I would highly encourage you to do a Marian Consecration. There is a really good D.I.Y Marian Retreat Book called "33 Days to Morning Glory" by Fr.Michael E. Gaitley. By consecrating yourself to Mary, you will surely experience her maternal sweetness as she accompanies you in this great act of redemptive suffering.

May I also add that St.Joseph, her most chaste spouse is with us. St. Joseph, Comfort of the Afflicted, Hope of the Sick is no stranger to hardships, trials and tribulations. He can help us gracefully live out our call to redemptive suffering in this trying time just as He did in the hidden years of Jesus’ life as Head of the Holy Family. May he teach us how to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and know when to listen, speak, remain silent or act as we spend more and more time with our families or friends in this lockdown period.

I am truly confident that by our prayers and practice of the virtue of patience, Jesus will bring an end to this whole pandemic but in the meantime, let’s allow Him to meet us where we are, smack in the middle of this whole crisis, lockdown etc. Let’s offer up our little sufferings and sacrifices to Jesus for the salvation of souls, reparation for sin and reunion of all Christians. God is taking what the enemy had meant for evil and He is turning it for our good. Thank you Jesus for allowing us to share in your mission and for effectively transforming this otherwise depressing Restricted Movement Order into an exciting Redemptive Movement Order.