Chapter 1, Verse 29This comes from God,
for you have been granted the privilege
for Christ's sake
not only of believing in him
but of suffering for him
as well.
as well.
Just a few seconds of thought and you might ask "How can a loving God's Son be a cause of suffering for me because I believe in him?" You might as if this is really a reward?
I say to couples preparing for their marriage "Do you really love Mary?" and "Do you love John?" Usually after a tender look to each other there is a response such as "Of course." Or a simple but firm "Yes, yes." Then, after what is sometimes an uncomfortable pause, I say "Well let me tell you this: your love for each other is going to bring you suffering." Imagine the reaction from each of the parties. After asking why, they learn what I hope will always be with them in many years of a happy marriage. Marriage is the most difficult of vocations especially in our times and culture. Why? Economic stress; learning to surrender much personal independence and freedom; enduring the rough days of raising a family; and accepting each other's idiosyncrasies -- especially in the later years of life!
What Paul is teaching us is (a) suffering is an integral part of loving; (b) believing means we in effect are willing to accept a way of living that is based on the teachings and life of Jesus Christ; and, (c) a Christian, a true follower of Christ, is willing to give oneself totally to Jesus.
How does Paul come to this? We are called to believe that the reason there is a Bethlehem is because Jesus accepted the Father's will to become a human being to give his life for our salvation, our redemption. God's gift of redemption would not be gained by Jesus' simply giving up his divine life to accept the limitations of human life. As well the love for the Father's will and for us sinners bring suffering because crucifixion and death were part of his love. Perfect love could not be shown to a sinner in a fuller expression. Jesus knew that his love for us would be affirmed by his own suffering and death. This was the environment of his journey.
We should understand Paul: "we have been granted the privilege for Christ's sake not only of believing in him but of suffering for him as well." (New Jerusalem Bible) We don't have to seeking suffering. If we say "I believe," we can expect suffering to be a part of belief which is our expression of love to God. Recall what Peter said when asked by Jesus "Do you love me?" Peter responds, "You know everything, Lord; you know I love you." Immediately the suffering mission was awarded to Peter when Jesus replied "Feed my sheep."
