Do it all for Love!

“Do not imagine that love can be found without suffering, for we carry with us our human nature; and yet, what a source of merit it is!”

We live in a particularly nihilistic culture. By that, I mean that gone are the days of the 1960s, 70s, and 80s. [Perhaps you who lived through those decades can tell me otherwise, but] my impression of those decades is that they were marked by a hope that humanity could effect a real change, real peace. But let me tell you that my generation is not so hopeful; we are quite pessimistic. I know a number of people who have asked what the purpose of life is if all we’re destined to do is suffer and eventually die.

Many people in my generation would really resonate with Job. At this point, Job has endured such a weight of hardship and suffering that he’s found himself at his breaking point. He’s cursing life, cursing the day he was born. In fact, he’s directly contrasting the Genesis story. Where God said, “Let there be light,” Job is wishing that the day of his birth be a day of darkness: “Let that day be darkness, nor light shine upon it!” Death for Job here is an end, an end to suffering.

But the revelation of Jesus Christ teaches us otherwise! For us as followers of Jesus, death is no longer a mere relief from suffering, but the beginning of something new. If God is love, and God the Son underwent suffering and death, then Christ teaches us that divine love requires suffering. In fact, the fact that God took on human flesh just so He could suffer shows us what a great gift it can be. St. Therese of Lisieux says as much: “Do not imagine that love can be found without suffering, for we carry with us our human nature; and yet, what a source of merit it is!”

Indeed, what a source of merit our suffering human nature can be! St. Therese gives us many examples of little ways we can suffer in love with our human nature. “For instance, a smile, a pleasant word when inclined to be silent and to show weariness.” The angels don’t have bodies, so they don’t have mouths they can smile with…but we do, and we can smile. And even if you can’t find an opportunity to suffer, St. Therese says she likes to tell Jesus over and over that she loves Him, just to keep the fire of love kindled in her heart.

The Lord Jesus suffered out of love for us, without cursing the day he was born; and in his suffering, he even brought us a light greater than that of the sun. What are some ways that we can turn our sufferings into opportunities of love? Let’s imitate sweet St. Therese; let’s not miss a single opportunity to make some small sacrifice, doing it all for love!