The post of Michael Mahoney the apostle of our Lord Jesus Christ

 To Holy Name Cathedral (Chicago, Illinois)

The Christian life includes both hardship and blessings, often at the same time. Suffering allows us to better relate to Jesus, but we are promised that with every degree of suffering we face, we have greater comfort from him when we depend on him. Paul learned through experience and went on to share with us in Romans 8:38-39 that no suffering, no matter how severe, can separate those who wholeheartedly follow Jesus. Paul’s sufferings included many tribulations, deep distress at society’s defiance and opposition toward God, beatings, shipwrecks, imprisonment, grief over saying goodbye to loved ones, anguish over those who refused to accept Jesus as their Messiah, and distress over wondering if some might be tempted to abandon their faith. Rather than focusing on his sufferings, he shares the encouragement he received from God with us.

He had firsthand knowledge of God’s comfort, and through the words he writes, he extends it to us, too. Our sufferings lead us closer to Christ, not because they hurt, but because of the comfort we receive from him. Then, they can lead us closer to one another because we can share with one another the same kind of solace God gave us. God’s comfort wraps us in his peace, which fills us with a calmness when chaos trounces through life. It’s a hope that doesn’t disappoint when we face crushing bad news. Experiencing God’s compassion is knowing that he will not leave us nor forsake us, but that we can rely on him for companionship when we walk the lonely road of suffering.