My beloved spiritual children in Christ Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.
+++
SUFFERING AS AN UNAVOIDABLE ASPECT OF THE LIFE IN CHRIST
By Saint Silouan the Athonite
Suffering is seen as a sign of God's love for man. Saint Silouan also considered suffering as a sort of 'measuring stick' of man's love for God. In his characteristic simplicity, he sums up this particular point using the example of Panayia. Referring to her limitless love for her Son and her inconceivable grief as she stood at the foot of the Cross, Saint Silouan states succinctly, "The greater the love, the greater the suffering".
Suffering is thus seen as an unavoidable outcome of the believer's fervent desire for the life in Christ. It is the condition without which there can be no participation in His life and hence no entry into His Kingdom of love. The New Testament teaches this quite clearly, "we must through many tribulations enter the Kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22). This is not a question of whether the believer 'may' suffer, the operative word here is "must". It is inevitable. Anyone actively pursuing the life in Christ will suffer. In fact, there is no spiritual progress without suffering, sorrow, pain, and persecution.
However, Saint Silouan teaches that man often makes his sufferings out to be more unbearable than they really are. This is a source of great anxiety and it is due to a lack of faith. It shows that the believer has not yet humbled himself, nor given himself over completely to the will of God. The believer must realize that it is ultimately the Lord who is in complete control of every facet of his life. By allowing such sufferings, the Lord actually directs and disciplines the believer, thereby making him His own 'legitimate' son or daughter. One must bear in mind that it is the Lord who allows these afflictions for the spiritual benefit of the believer, and it is also the Lord who delivers him from them. According to Saint Silouan, "...the Lord Himself guides with His grace them that are given over to God's will, and they bear all things with fortitude for the sake of God Whom they have so loved and with Whom they are glorified forever..." The believer is thus 'tested' as to the extent of his complete commitment to the will of God, as well as to the measure of his unconditional love for Him."
The life of man is a time of testing. This is clearly seen in every aspect of human life and especially within human relationships. This is not confined to the testing of a teacher towards his student or an employer toward his workers. Friendships too are often tested, thereby revealing a true friend. Marriage is constantly tested, thus allowing the sacramental union of love to grow continually. Parents test their children in the lessons of life, yet children too test their parents to see how much they can get away with, i.e.., as to the extent of the parents' permissiveness or strictness.
It seems as if love itself is meant to be tested, for only in this way is it proven to be 'true'. In fact, it could be said that love is 'true' when it is tested and when the person loved fails yet is still loved in spite of this failure. Such is the unconditional love of God toward man. It is interesting to note that in Monastic life the Greek word for the person who is actively seeking tonsure is 'dokimos' (δόκιμος), which means literally, "he who is being tried or tested.' The testing of one's commitment and love is a formative experience. It is not a question of whether one is tried or proven in a juridical sense. Rather, the point is that through 'testing' one is offered the opportunity to advance in the acquisition of spiritual virtues and to grow in the grace of the Holy Spirit.
Suffering as a Christ-Centered Experience
As he undergoes these various trials and tribulations, some of which will be quite intense, the believer must always have before him the example of Christ Himself. Obviously, it is Christ, Who as the Suffering Servant or 'Man of sufferings,' provides the pristine example which is to be followed by those who have chosen to take up their own cross and follow Him. The Apostle Peter teaches, "For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in His steps" (see 1 Peter 2:21). To live in Christ is to follow Him. This entails following His personal example of self-emptying, self-sacrifice and 'much suffering.'
By partaking in such sufferings--in whatever way God may allow--the believer thereby partakes in the victory of Christ's Resurrection over death. This is not just some kind of ethical or juridical 'trade-off'. It is the existential participation in His victory over death and corruption. His victory then becomes the believer's victory. One's own personal participation in such sufferings thus opens the way to even further participation in the life in Christ. One's own experience is to be dealt with in full consciousness of Christ's sufferings and sorrows. The sufferings encountered in the spiritual life are thus to be seen as opportunities for sharing in those of Christ. Yet sharing in His sufferings implies sharing in His glory: "...we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him" (Romans 8:17). Saint Maximos the Confessor also mentions this point when he refers to the "shared suffering" between God and man. "If God suffers in the flesh when He is made man, should we not rejoice when we suffer, for we have God to share our sufferings?
True Christ-like suffering, however, is rarely grasped by man. Such suffering is obviously beyond compare. Yet when man somehow shares in the sufferings and sorrows of Christ--to whatever degree--he is then led to a variety of virtues and benefits, and ultimately toward his deification (theosis). (Source: Orthodox Spiritual Life according to Saint Silouan the Athonite by Harry Boosalis)
(To be continued)
__________________
Please note: I am bringing to you the divine words of Saint Silouan the Athonite on suffering because there are many of you that do not understand the purpose, value or meaning of suffering. We all suffer in this earthly life of ours and we all experience sorrow and pain. However, as Christian believers, we must view suffering in a positive light since there are numerous spiritual benefits that are derived from our sufferings.
We must not see our sufferings as a punishment from our Loving God but as sharing in the suffering of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The Godman Who suffered to save us and Who died, resurrected, so that we may have life eternal in His Kingdom. We do not suffer ever alone but we have God Who always shares our sufferings.
Don't be angry or disappointed with God because of your sufferings. Instead, be thankful that He loves you so much that He is willing to strengthen your love and commitment for Him. Please know that our God, the God of unconditional love for mankind, does not inflict us with pain and suffering but simply allows it to happen so that our souls be cleansed and saved.
_____________________
"Glory Be To GOD FOR ALL THINGS!" (including suffering)
+++
With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia,
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+Father George