Suffering is never a personal punishment from God: in fact, he is very close to everyone who suffers and grieves. Suffering was never part of God’s plan for the world, but came into the world as a result of original sin and the fall of man. To change this situation, Jesus was prepared to sacrifice his own life on the cross out of love for all human beings. He was humiliated and tortured by these same people.
Through his horrific suffering, Jesus opened a path to God in heaven. When we suffer, we can know that we are united with Jesus, who also suffered. He even conquered death! As we get to know him better and stay close to him, we too can overcome suffering and grief and enter God’s presence in heaven. By uniting with Jesus, our suffering can become meaningful.
