When Suffering Makes Sense: A "My Catholic Life!" Revelation

You know how some questions just…stick with you? 

For the longest time, one of those questions for me revolved around suffering for Christ. It's a central theme in our faith, right? 

We talk about offering up our sacrifices, uniting our pains with His. But then, my mind would wander to the Bible, filled with promises of safety and abundant life. And yet, history (and our Church's calendar!) is packed with stories of saints who faced unimaginable hardship, persecution, and even martyrdom. 

How did that all square up? It felt like a big, beautiful, yet somewhat perplexing dilemma.
Well, something clicked for me recently. I was catching some Catholic reflections on YouTube, specifically from the "My Catholic Life!" channel. And then I heard a line that just…landed. It was something about people waiting for the coming glory of God. And suddenly, it was like a light switch flipped in my head.

Think about it: the saints, those incredible men and women of faith, weren't just enduring suffering. They were consumed by something far greater. They were so utterly inflamed with the notion of the coming glory – the eternal, boundless joy of being united with Christ in His Kingdom. And this made their present sufferings, no matter how intense, as you beautifully put it, "insubstantial."

It's like looking at a tiny speck of dust when you're gazing at a magnificent sunrise. The dust is there, sure, but your focus is entirely on the overwhelming beauty of the dawn. 

For the saints, that glorious dawn was the promise of eternity with God.

Ultimate Answer: Love

And then, the biggest piece of the puzzle slid into place. As always, the answer to this big dilemma in my mind was love.

Think of Christ Himself. His passion, His crucifixion and the unimaginable suffering. But what helped Him to go through with it? 

It was His unfathomable love for us. His desire to redeem us, to open the gates of heaven, was so immense that He willingly embraced every lash, every thorn, every nail. His love masked the present agony.

And the saints? It was their deep, burning love for Christ and His Kingdom that enabled them to joyfully go through it all. That love wasn't a passive emotion; it was an active, consuming fire that made everything else pale in comparison. 

For many the suffering was a powerful tool when their trials, their sacrifices, or even their very lives brought more people into the light of Christ. It wasn't about seeking pain, but about recognizing its redemptive power when offered for the salvation of souls. Their present joy wasn't found despite the suffering, but often within it, knowing it was bearing spiritual fruit.

The coming joy of eternal communion with God so thoroughly masked their current suffering that it transformed their perspective entirely. It became an offering, a testament, a joyful sacrifice made out of profound devotion.

So, the next time you reflect on the struggles of the saints, or even your own everyday crosses, perhaps you can = try to shift your focus. Instead of just seeing the suffering, try to see the immeasurable glory that awaits you, fueled by the same powerful love that sustained Christ and His saints.

What are your thoughts on this? Has anything similar clicked for you lately?

--

31 July 2025 

Mother Teresa's 15 Points of Humility

Mother Teresa, a beacon of compassion and service, understood the transformative power of humility. She believed that true spiritual growth is rooted in selflessness and surrender to God's will. Her 15 points offer a practical guide to cultivating humility:

Focus on Others

1. Speak as little as possible about yourself: This goes beyond avoiding bragging. It's about turning inward, focusing on one's own shortcomings and areas for growth rather than external validation. This practice cultivates self-awareness and prevents self-absorption.

2. Keep busy with your own affairs and not those of others: This isn't about isolation but about setting boundaries. It's recognizing that everyone has their own journey and that excessive involvement in others' lives can distract from one's own spiritual growth.

 

3. Avoid curiosity about things that do not concern you: It is about discerning what information is truly beneficial to you and focusing on one's own development. This guards against prying into the lives of others and fostering judgment. 

4. Do not interfere in the affairs of others: Respecting personal boundaries and allowing others to learn from their experiences.

Cultivate Patience and Acceptance

5. Accept small irritations with good humor: Developing emotional resilience and a positive outlook in the face of minor inconveniences. It's seeing challenges as opportunities for growth, rather than as setbacks. This attitude fosters inner peace and helps one maintain a positive outlook.

6. Do not dwell on the faults of others:

This is about practicing forgiveness and understanding. It’s recognizing that everyone makes mistakes and that focusing on others' flaws can hinder one's own spiritual progress.

 

7. Accept censures even if unmerited: Demonstrating humility by accepting criticism gracefully, even when unjust.

8. Give in to the will of others: Prioritizing the needs and desires of others over personal preferences.

Embrace Suffering and Rejection

9. Accept insults and injuries: Developing a thick skin and letting go of resentment.

10. Accept contempt, being forgotten and disregarded: Overcoming the need for recognition and approval.

11, Be courteous and delicate even when provoked by someone: Maintaining composure and kindness in challenging situations.

Seek Humility, Not Praise

12. Do not seek to be admired and loved: Letting go of the desire for external validation.

13. Do not protect yourself behind your own dignity: Overcoming pride and ego.

14. Give in in discussions, even when you are right: Prioritizing harmony and understanding over winning arguments.

15. Choose always the more difficult task: Embracing challenges as opportunities for growth and service.

The Essence of Humility

Mother Teresa's list emphasizes a shift in focus from self to others, from pride to service, and from control to surrender. It's a call to cultivate a heart centered on God, rather than on personal desires and achievements.

By practicing these points, individuals can foster a deeper connection with their faith, build stronger relationships, and become more effective in serving others. Ultimately, humility is the foundation for a life of love, compassion, and spiritual growth.

When the Fire Strengthens, Not Scorches

I came across a line on LinkedIn that stayed with me:

“When you work on something big, the universe tests your resolve in many ways.”

But the more I reflect on my own life and faith, the more I realize—maybe they aren’t tests at all. Maybe they’re preparations.

Many months ago, I watched a Christian film about a small cake shop owner who refused to bake a cake for a same-sex wedding, firmly standing by his beliefs. The backlash was fierce. Court cases. Loss of business. Emotional strain. And yet, he stood firm and eventually, he came through it. Stronger. Deeper in faith. Wiser.

At the time I wondered, “Why did it have to happen at all?”

But then I looked at the long spells of dryness, of feeling abandoned, that I went through recently I kept asking: Why, Lord? What is the purpose in this season?

And then it clicked.

It wasn’t punishment. It wasn’t even a trial.

It was strengthening. God wasn’t testing me to see if I’d break but rather He was training me to carry more than I ever thought I could.

I’m reminded of Job. Yes, the faithful Job who was blameless and upright. Yet even he said:

"For the thing that I fear comes upon me, and what I dread befalls me." -- Job 3:25

Though Job had faith, he also had fear and it was that fear that God gently exposed and walked him through. The suffering wasn’t to destroy him. It was to purify him. In the end, Job says:

 "I had heard of thee by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees thee." -- Job 42:5

He didn’t just believe about God anymore but he encountered Him and wass transformed.

And that’s the gift in the fire.

It doesn't come to scorch but to refine.

It doesn’t expose weakness to shame us but to help us confront it, heal it, and grow.

So maybe the next time we find ourselves in the thick of it whether it is rejection, confusion, isolation, or hardship; we can pause and "What is God building in me through this?" instead of "Why is this happening to me?"

Because sometimes, the desert isn’t a detour. It’s the training ground of destiny.

And we don’t just come out of it.

We come out of it stronger. Steadier. Closer to God.

Reflection:

What areas of weakness is God strengthening in your life right now?

Have you, like Job, moved from hearing about God to seeing Him in your trials?

Letter to Rhema: A glimpse of you restored what I lost

Dear Rhema,

This morning I woke up with abundant joy after months. I had a dream, so vivid and comforting, it felt like a kiss from heaven. In the dream, you were born healthy, peacefully and naturally. 

No sooner had I opened my eyes than Ryan hugged me with his usual whirlwind of questions but this time it was all about you: “Will baby call me Anna?” “Is baby going to cry a lot?” “Are baby bones squishy?” It feIt as if heaven gave us a shared dream, where you and I were already together and Ryan was right there, stepping into his big brother shoes loving you in his unique way. 

The dream and this early morning interaction was a melody I did not know I needed.

It felt like a prayer answered ahead of time. For the past few months, especially after being admitted with a threatened miscarriage two months ago, I’ve been carrying this constant fear of loss. No matter how hard I tried to pray it away, fear sat stubborn in my chest. I'd try to reach out to God, but I’d slide right back into sin — dramas, endless thoughts, anything but stillness.

I missed Him. I missed that closeness I once knew. And yesterday, maybe out of desperation or maybe hope, I made a decision to begin the 33-day consecration to Our Lady. Not with fireworks or overwhelming faith, but with a small, quiet yes and a surrendered plea for the grace to see it through since I no longer found the strength to carry on. Just a tired heart seeking to come home and never leave.

I am painfully aware that I’ve been the one constantly pulling away but He never let go. Even when I willingly chose to go the other way, even when my prayers felt like hollow echoes, He shielded me from falling too far. I felt His grace as a shield still holding, still steady even as I indulged in my doubt and distraction. He didn’t force me back. He simply waited, patiently, until I was ready.

And in answer to my surrender, He gifted me this moment today reminding me that every prayer is heard and no mess is too tangled for him to rescue me from. The dream gave me something precious: peace, joy and hope. A promise I could cling to. It breathed life into my prayer again - allowing me to be still and completely trusting Him.

I believe, Rhema, that God is preparing something beautiful through you. And today, I carry this promise a little more boldly, with a renewed will to pray constantly and love unwaveringly.

Thank You, Jesus. For the hope and for holding us through every moment.

Until I see you face to face,

Love,

Mom

13 July 2025