KNOWING JESUS THROUGH THE CROSS AND SUFFERING
Though holy doctors have uncovered many mysteries and wonders, and devout souls have understood them in this earthly condition of ours, yet the greater part still remains to be unfolded by them, and even to be understood by them.
We must then dig deeply in Christ. He is like a rich mine with many pockets containing treasures: however deep we dig we will never find their end or their limit. Indeed, in every pocket new seams of fresh riches are discovered on all sides.
For this reason the apostle Paul said of Christ: In him are hidden all the treasures of the wisdom and knowledge of God. The soul cannot enter into these treasures, nor attain them, unless it first crosses into and enters the thicket of suffering, enduring interior and exterior labours, and unless it first receives from God very many blessings in the intellect and in the senses, and has undergone long spiritual training.
All these are lesser things, disposing the soul for the lofty sanctuary of the knowledge of the mysteries of Christ: this is the highest wisdom attainable in this life.
Would that men might come at last to see that it is quite impossible to reach the thicket of the riches and wisdom of God except by first entering the thicket of much suffering, in such a way that the soul finds there its consolation and desire. The soul that longs for divine wisdom chooses first, and in truth, to enter the thicket of the cross.
Saint Paul therefore urges the Ephesians not to grow weary in the midst of tribulations, but to be steadfast and rooted and grounded in love, so that they may know with all the saints the breadth, the length, the height and the depth – to know what is beyond knowledge, the love of Christ, so as to be filled with all the fullness of God.
The gate that gives entry into these riches of his wisdom is the cross; because it is a narrow gate, while many seek the joys that can be gained through it, it is given to few to desire to pass through it.
--St John of the Cross
God whispers to us in our pleasures, he speaks to us in our conscience, and he shouts to us in our pain. Pain is God's megaphone. And unlike the ripples that are made in a pond, the ripple of pain, instead of going out to distant shores, narrow and narrow and comes to a central point where there is less of the outside of the circle and more of the center. Not the ego, but the real person and the real self. And one begins to find oneself alone with God. That is what happens in pain.
(Archbishop Fulton Sheen)
By 1660 it had become impossible for him [St Vincent de Paul] to say Mass and he had to content himself with hearing Mass. Soon the pain increased and his slightest movement caused him fearful pain. Then he could be heard to sigh "Oh my Saviour! My good Saviour!" [p. 46]
(St Vincent de Paul. From Jacques Delarue, The Holiness of Vincent de Paul, Geoffrey Chapman Ltd, London 1960, 132 pp)
The everlasting God has
in His wisdom foreseen
from eternity the cross
that He now presents to you
as a gift from His inmost heart.
This cross He now sends you
He has considered with His all-knowing eyes,
understood with His divine mind,
tested with His wise justice,
warmed with loving arms
and weighed with His own hands
to see that it be not one inch too large
and not one ounce too heavy for you.
He has blessed it with His holy Name,
anointed it with His consolation,
taken one last glance at you
and your courage,
and then sent it to you from heaven,
a special greeting from God to you,
an alms of the all-merciful love of God.
(St Francis de Sales)
Mary, my Mother, help me to understand each day that if I want to belong more to Jesus, and if I want to receive from Him the joy that the world will never be capable of giving, I need to embrace my daily Cross.
Help me to see the heavenly treasure behind every disappointment; help me to detect the divine gift behind every pain; teach me to welcome the glory behind every sorrow.
12 March 2008
Suffering, pain--failure--is but a kiss of Jesus, a sign that you have come so close to Jesus on the Cross that He can kiss you.--So my child be happy.... Do not be discouraged...so smile back... For you it is a most beautiful chance of becoming fully and totally all for Jesus.
---
Your parents must have kissed you as a real sign of love. If I am the spouse of Jesus crucified, He has to kiss me. Naturally, the nails will hurt me. If I come close to the crown of thorns it will hurt me.
(Blessed Mother Teresa, Come Be My Light, p 282)