"Who would believe what we have heard? To whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? He grew up like a sapling before him, like a shoot parched from the earth; There was in him no stately being to make us look at him nor appearance that would attract us to him. He was spurned and avoided by men, a man of suffering accustomed to infirmity. One of those from whom men hide their faces, spurned and we held him in no esteem. Yet it was our infirmities that he bore, our sufferings that he endured. While we thought of him as stricken, as one smitten by God and afflicted. But he was pierced for offenses, crushed for our sins. Upon him was the chastisement that makes us whole, by his stripes we were healed."
Isaiah 53:1-5
I use to view suffering as a punishment from God. But this verse has helped me see that Jesus has already endured our suffering. We as Christians are called to take up our Cross daily and follow Him. If we unite our sufferings with His, the Lord can use that for the salvation of souls which is pretty incredible.
Mother Teresa said that when we are suffering Jesus is so close to us and He is kissing us. As we journey through Lent, let us ask the Lord to give us the courage to take up our Crosses.
No comments:
Post a Comment