Nov 20 Mon
We are co-redeemers with Christ.
The Church makes present to all ages the fruits of Christ's death on the Cross. All the sacraments, especially the Eucharist, unite us to his Passion. But God wants us to be united also to his mission. He has called us to be co-redeemers. For this union to be fruitful, the personal sacrifice of each of us is needed. Saint Josemaría: “In this mystical body, if you and I fulfill our duty joyfully, even when it is hard; if we overcome ourselves, with a smile that is sometimes a mortification; then you and I will win God's grace abundantly for souls.”
To be a Christian means being united to the Cross. St Paul tells us: “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh, I complete what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the Church.” To co-redeem with Christ, we have to be united to our Lord on the Cross, and not avoid sacrifices in daily life. “Being a Christian is not simply a way to personal gratification; it implies a mission...”
“Being a Christian is not something secondary; it is a divine reality that takes root deep in our life. It gives us a clear vision, and strengthens our will to act as God wants. So, we learn that the Christian's pilgrimage in the world must express itself in a continuous service in many ways, varying with each person's circumstances, but always motivated by love of God and of our neighbor.
Being a Christian means forgetting petty objectives of personal prestige and ambition, and even possibly nobler aims, like philanthropy and compassion for the misfortunes of others. It means setting our mind and heart on reaching the fullness of love which Jesus Christ showed by dying for us.”
“Some people tend to see Christianity as a collection of devout practices, failing to realize the relation between them and the circumstances of ordinary life, including the urgency to meet the needs of other people and remedy injustice. I would say that anyone who has that attitude has not yet understood the meaning of the Incarnation. Perhaps without wanting to, some people regard Christ as a stranger in the world of man.”
“Others tend to imagine that in order to remain human, we need to play down some central aspects of Christian dogma. They act as if the life of prayer, the continual relationship with God, were fleeing from responsibilities and forsaking the world. But they forget that it was none other than Jesus who showed us the extreme to which we should go in love and service. Only if we try to understand the mystery of God's love - a love which went as far as death - will we be able to give ourselves totally to others and not let ourselves be overcome by difficulties or indifference.”
We must reach eternal joy by way of suffering.
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