Passiones | Sufferings

“In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,…” – 2 Timothy 3: 12

My dear brothers and sisters, it is undeniable that all of us have suffered any time in our life and perhaps we are still suffering right now. We do not like to suffer for anything, nor can we resist it to come into our lives. We cannot run away from it.  Moreover, as God's people, suffering is our cross of life.

The suffering can be illustrated by two sides of a coin. On one side, the suffering could weaken our body and soul but on the other side, it could help us realize our infirmities and weaknesses then improve it. At this point, we are asked to endure the suffering and try to find a way of bringing peace into our suffering.

Saint Paul said, "Indeed, all who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted". Becoming a faithful Christian, we have to suffer and be persecuted as a part of our faith experience. Saint Paul also wrote about our attitudes when we face various kinds of suffering in our faith life. He emphasized that we must be consistent in the righteousness. How difficult it is to stride in faith, when we are suffering because of the faith itself. 

For surviving on our faith, Saint Paul invites us to be more and more faithful in reading the Holy Scripture and doing a reflection afterwards. In the Holy Scripture, we will find the wisdom of God which will lead us to God's salvation. God's wisdom helps us to correct ourselves and lead us to a repentance. Therefore, we try keener to read and to live God's Word accordingly in our daily lives. Those are the Christian's power in facing up sufferings.

My dear brothers and sisters, sufferings have great values in our lives as God's people. It can purify us and help us grow up in faith to God. By sticking to the faith and God's blessing, we can endure the sufferings in our lives. One certain thing which we have to remind is that God never gives us any unbearable sufferings. Also, His Love always accompanies us in our journey for His steadfast love endures forever. Accept your problems and sufferings and turn them into smiles. Amen.

Reflection on 2 Timothy 3:10-17 by Fr. Victory D. Lianain, SVD

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