Cookouts and get-togethers, graduation parties, family reunions, the upcoming July 4 celebration, parish and community festivals, time with friends and family in the backyard are all hallmarks of the summer here in the North Country. However, we come to church amid this relaxed atmosphere and hear words like these from Sacred Scripture: “Terror on every side!” “Let us denounce him.” “We can take our vengeance on him.”

Summer may be the happy time of the year, especially here in the North Country, but the stark reality of daily living will force us to recognize turmoil and suffering in our own lives or in the lives of others. We face external forces over which we have no control, the difficult boss, the crazy driver in front of us, social unrest and a list too long to list here. Even when we speak against such evils as abortion, transgenderism, promiscuity, the redefinition of marriage, we are accused of hate speech because many do not accept life the way God designed it.

Some people face bodily harm, like the early martyrs of the Church and the current martyrs who are being slaughtered in certain countries for the mere fact that they are followers of Jesus Christ. In fact, statistics tell us that more people have been martyred for being Christian in the 20th and 21st centuries than in all the previous centuries.

Some people wrongly believe that Jesus is like helicopter parents of today who try to eradicate all obstacles from the life of a child rather than teaching children how to face the difficulties of life. You may have heard some fervent, perhaps over-zealous preachers, affirm that if we believe hard enough in Jesus, he will take away our suffering. Tell me where Jesus said that!! Jesus did say not to be afraid of those who could kill the body, but he never said that people would not try to hurt us or that no one could succeed in doing so. If fact, full disclosure tells us that Jesus did instruct us to take up our cross and follow him. As Christians, we love to dwell on the reality of the resurrection, but, likewise as Christians, we must embrace the reality of the cross as did Jesus. So, being a disciple of Jesus will not save us from suffering in this life, but being a disciple of Jesus will teach us how to face suffering in this life.

So, why would Jesus allow us to suffer? After all, did Jesus not come to save us? Doesn’t saving mean keeping us from all harm? Well, the Bible tells us that suffering entered the world because of sin. It is true that Jesus saved us from sin, but he does not take away our freedom, a freedom that can cause pain and suffering. Jesus did not remove suffering. Rather his lesson transformed suffering into a means of grace. Witness what he did with his suffering. Being faithful to God even when facing personal tragedy means that we can take that tragedy and turn it into something beautiful just as Jesus did with his own suffering. His crucifixion led to his resurrection. Jesus did not remove suffering. Rather, Jesus transformed suffering into a channel of grace.

A crucifix reminds us about the crucifixion of Jesus. Some see the cross or crucifix as a lovely piece of jewelry. We should take the many crucifixes that we see in our world to remind us that we can unite our sufferings with those of Jesus to transform not only our lives, but the lives of others. Is that not what Jesus meant when he said to take up our cross? Taking up the cross transformed the life of Jesus. Taking up the cross will transform our lives, too.

We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you. Because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.