20 July 2025

20 July 2025 - 16th Sunday of Ordinary Time

Transcript

Reading:  

Colossians 1:24

Write:  

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ…

Reflect:   

Jesus Christ perfectly accomplished the work the Father gave him to do; as he said himself as he was dying, “It is finished.”

From that point onwards objective redemption is an accomplished fact. 

Let’s take a moment to define the difference between subjective and objective. Subjective most commonly means based on the personal perspective or preferences of a person—the subject who’s observing something. In contrast, objective most commonly means not influenced by or based on a personal viewpoint—based on the analysis of an object of observation only.

The subjective reality of Jesus dying is the objective result of our salvation. Think about that for a moment. The subjective reality of Jesus dying (the fact that he died) is the objective result of our salvation.

All men have been offered salvation by the redemptive death of Christ. However, St Paul says that he completes in his flesh “what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions”; what does he mean by this? The most common explanation of this statement is summarized by St Alphonsus as follows: “Can it be that Christ’s passion alone was insufficient to save us? It left nothing more to be done, it was entirely sufficient to save all men. However, for the merits of the Passion to be applied to us, … we need to cooperate (subjective redemption) by patiently bearing the trials God sends us, so as to become like our head, Christ” (St Alphonsus, Thoughts on the Passion, 10).

St Paul is applying this truth to himself. Jesus Christ accomplished [our] redemption by dying on the Cross. So how do we participate in what Jesus did?

Apply:   

This has been a confusing point for a lot of people throughout Christianity. Objectively, Jesus death on the cross did it all – all that was necessary to accomplish our salvation. Subjectively, we need to participate in the cross of Christ – he even said “take up your cross daily” and follow him.

How do you define redemptive suffering? This is a topic that some Christian groups do not understand! 

I imagine all of us have heard of “the Prosperity Gospel”. It is a false image of Christianity that says that if we place our faith in Jesus we will have everything we want in this world and in the next. That is an oversimplification, but not by much given the way some preachers preach this Prosperity Gospel. In this approach there is no room for suffering. Some of them even go so foolishly far as to say, “if you are sick – especially with a terminal illness – that means you do not have faith.”

What a tragedy! And what a heavy load to place on someone’s mind. People who suffer from major diseases are left to think that somehow they are not filled with faith. That is so wrong!

But what are we to make of suffering? I don’t like suffering. I don’t like it when I get sick. I certainly don’t hide my headaches very well. But at this time of the year because of allergies I live with almost a constant low-grade headache that at times becomes worse, MUCH worse. And unfortunately, those times show up on my face. You can almost always tell when I have a headache. Enough of my personal examples and complaining.

Seriously, what are we to make of suffering? St. Paul says that “in his flesh he is filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ.” It sure sounds like he’s saying Christ did not do enough. But that is to misread the entire purpose of this section of Paul’s letter. It has to do with the simple and consistent example of his life. Paul dedicated every part of who he was to furthering the spread of the gospel. He said his struggle was “to bring to completion for you the word of God, the mystery hidden from ages and from generations past.”

It seems clear to me that Saint Paul understood he had to be as much like Christ as possible. That is what we are called to be as well.

Well… What does that mean? Look again at the closing sentence of the reading today: “It is [Christ] whom we proclaim, admonishing everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.”

Now I return to Saint Alphonsus: “we need to cooperate (subjective redemption) by patiently bearing the trials God sends us, so as to become like our head, Christ.” What trials have been part of your life? How have you turned them to a witness to the love of God? Let me list just a few: losing your spouse; losing your parents; an estranged child; a personal illness; the illness of a child; the loss of a job; I could go on but I believe this is enough.

There is an old Catholic phrase: offer it up! That really summarizes what St. Paul is trying to say. He had not met the Colossians at the time he wrote this letter. But he saw the stuff he endured for the sake of the gospel as a way to offer his life for them. I do not pretend to understand the anguish of a widow or of a parent. I do understand the anguish of an orphan – both my parents are dead. I have seen many people struggle with illness. Some do it with grace. Some do it with anger. I think grace is better.

I do not believe there are many people – if any – who have no regrets about their lives. I do believe that those who offer their lives as a witness to Christ have the least regrets. It doesn’t mean that sorrow is not there. No one likes to suffer, unless you are completely insane.

St. Paul said “I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake…” I would never call him insane! Is this part of his letter hard to understand? Well, yes and no. It is hard to understand because part of us wants to believe that Jesus did all the suffering necessary. Face it: it would be easier that way! But Jesus doesn’t say “I’ve done it all” – he says, “follow me!”

For us to “take up our cross” and follow Him – in part – means to take whatever sufferings we endure and turn them to the glory of God. 

Now, here is an interesting point: if the sufferings we are enduring are pushed at us only from the devil, as soon as we offer it up, the devil quits! He does not want to give any glory to God. But, if the suffering comes from God, he intends it to be used for his glory. Also, remember my dad’s line: only God can make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear. Yeah, I like that line! 

Should we pursue suffering? No. Should we welcome and endure it? There is a big difference between the two.

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