Tag Archives: Suffering

June 15, 2016

12th Sunday of the Year – Take up your Cross

By Fr. Andrew Ricci

Good Friday

Study:  Reflect back on moments where you carried a Cross in your life.  Where did you find the strength to carry it?

Pray:  Pray for those who are struggling as they endure their Cross, that God will give them the grace they need.

Serve:  How can you help someone carry their Cross?  How can you help lighten their load?

12th Sunday of the Year Readings

These are solemn and powerful words that greet us in the Scriptures this week.  Here’s a quick recap:

  • 1st Reading – Zechariah’s prophecy regarding Jesus “whom they have pierced”
  • Psalm – “My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.”
  • 2nd Reading – Paul reminds us that we are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus
  • Gospel – Christ must suffer, and we who follow him must carry our own Cross as well

I’d like to draw out a couple of key points in the light of these readings.  First, the Cross directly touches our lives…because pain, suffering, evil and injustice are all part of the landscape of human existence.  The Cross of Christ speaks to us because in the Cross the Lord meets us in midst of the mess and muck of life.  And as we “look on him whom they have pierced” we see in the prophetic words of Zechariah how Jesus crucifies all suffering in his Cross – and redeems us in his almighty grace!

Second, we all have our own Crosses.  We have been on both the giving and receiving end of hardship, and we know firsthand our own Crosses that we have carried (and have seen others carry theirs as well.)  We then recall how our Cross is a tiny splinter of the Lord’s – and that when we carry our Cross we participate in a small but significant way in the Lord’s sacrifice at Calvary.

What is your Cross?  What is the burden you bear at this point in your life?  May we turn to the Lord for the strength and grace we need, confident that as Christ was triumphant in his Cross he will give us the help we need to carry our own.

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April 13, 2016

Daily Mass: Perseverance through Persecution. Catholic Inspiration

By Fr. Andrew Ricci

Three Great Things

Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily – Wednesday of the 3rd Week of Easter

Daily Mass Readings

What gives people strength to carry on when the going gets tough?  To hang in there when it is painful, difficult, or oppressive?  The struggles of the early Church were sustained by their faith in Christ, who promised eternal life to all who believe in him.

perseverance-6-638

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March 25, 2016

Good Friday – The Cross of Christ

By Fr. Andrew Ricci

Good Friday

Study:  Where have I made sacrifices in my life?  What do these sacrifices reveal about my values and priorities?

Pray:  Reflect on those who are suffering right now.  Draw near to them in your prayer, asking the Lord to give them strength.

Serve:  Who is carrying a cross in your life today?  How can you help them?

Good Friday Readings

Fr. Andrew’s Homily Podcast (10 minutes, given at Cathedral on April 3, 2015)

For what would you give your life?  For who?

Perhaps this is too extreme as a starting point.  Perhaps the first question should be where in my life have I made consistent sacrifices?  Where in my life have I given up something because I believed in something more important?

Sacrifices reveal the depth and character of our heart.  They show our values, principles, and convictions in straightforward and direct ways.  Our sacrifices quickly point out the hidden parts of our soul – either to be confirmed/denied by the words we speak – and proclaim to others our inner self.

In general sacrifice means giving our lives – sometimes in simple service, minor inconveniences, labors of love, seasons of selflessness, or in extreme cases: offering our lives.  We make sacrifices all the time.

So did Christ.

As we read the Passion of the Lord today we discover the love Christ has for every human soul; the Lord willingly hung upon the Cross for our sins – sacrificing his innocent life for the pains and hurts we have inflicted upon one another.  His sacrifice reveals his love for us (even on our worst days) as something so precious that it is worth all the pain and humiliation that the devil could provide.

Where do we see ourselves in the Passion?  What crosses have we been given to carry – participating in some small way with the Cross of Christ?  Or are we like Simon of Cyrene or Veronica – assisting with others in their own journey to Calvary?  Are we making sacrifices or offering support for others in their need?  We read the Passion every year on Good Friday to remind ourselves not only of what the Lord has done for us, but also that we, too, have a part to play.  Our crosses participate in the Cross of Christ; our support for one another shares in the comfort which others offered to Jesus.

May this Good Friday drive us to our knees – thanking the Lord for what he did for us, and inspiring us to walk willingly with others in their need.

This post was originally published on April 3, 2015

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Walking with the Lord in Holy Week (March 9-12, 2015 – Our Lady of the Valley – Green Valley, AZ) This parish mission takes the listener on a journey with Christ – from his entry into Jerusalem, through the Last Supper, his Passion, and his Resurrection.

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November 19, 2015

Daily Mass: Jesus Wept. Catholic Inspiration

By Fr. Andrew Ricci

Three Great Things

Fr. Andrew’s Daily Mass Homily Podcast (Thursday of the 33rd Week of the Year)

Jesus wept over the city of Jerusalem.  He sees the tribulation that will come, and he opens his arms to embrace the sadness…that he might touch it and bless it.  May we turn to the Lord in our moments of sorrow and allow his grace to guide us.  Sorrow is not the end, and with God’s help we will face our tears with hope.

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October 18, 2015

29th Sunday of the Year – The Cup of Suffering – Catholic Inspiration

By Fr. Andrew Ricci

Three Great Things

Fr. Andrew’s 29th Sunday of the Year Homily Podcast

Jesus Christ shows us that suffering is a pathway, not a destination.  Through suffering we experience a purification – whereby we grow and discover new insights through the process of challenge, pain, and difficulty.  God permits suffering that we might be changed…for the good.  For remember: the suffering of Good Friday will be transformed into the joy of Easter Day.

We are thus consoled and challenged by these words.  Consoled, in that we take hope that the triumph of Christ on the Cross will one day be our triumph.  He understands our suffering (he’s already been through his own) and we can cling to his mercy and grace.

Challenged, in that we are invited to drink from the cup of suffering.  Like Christ, we pray that the cup will pass by, but like Christ we will accept what God sets before us – opening our hearts to God and allow this process to transform us.

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October 13, 2015

29th Sunday of the Year – The Cup of Suffering

By Fr. Andrew Ricci

800px-Champaigne_La_Crucifixion

Study:  Consider an experience of suffering in your life.  What lessons did you learn?  How did you change and grow?

Pray:  Many people carry heavy crosses every day…pray for them that they find the strength and grace they need.

Serve:  Many people carry heavy crosses every day…how can you help them?

29th Sunday of the Year Readings

Fr. Andrew’s Homily Podcast

The readings today weave together around some common themes:

  • 1st Reading – The Servant who suffers to ransom others
  • Psalm – We trust in the Lord’s mercy
  • 2nd Reading – Jesus, tested in every way, sympathizes with our weaknesses
  • Gospel – Christ came to serve and offer his life…inviting us to do the same

Let’s start with Jesus.  The Lord’s mission included not only teaching and healing, but was most clearly articulated in his death and resurrection for the life of the world.  Christ died for our sins – taking our place by his suffering on the Cross for the evil we have done.  His resurrection blazes a trail for us that leads to Heaven.

It is crucial to note that suffering is the path, not the goal.  God the Father did not choose Jesus to suffer out of a desire for pain, but to bridge the gap between the human and divine.  The Lord is the High Priest whose suffering draws near to a wounded and broken humanity.  Like us in all things but sin, Jesus embraces us as he stretched out his hands on the Cross.

The victory of the Resurrection reveals suffering as the doorway, a path that when taken purges and cleanses, through which Christ has passed to break the bonds of sin and death.  Suffering does not end in suffering; it leads to a freedom in Christ that is filled with grace, mercy, and peace.

This message has elements of consolation and challenge for us today.  The consolation?  We look to Christ for our redemption – turning to the Lord whose saving death and resurrection give us eternal life.

The challenge?  We are called to face our suffering, recognizing in the crosses of our lives the path of redemption that God sets before us.  In other words, we drink from the cup of Christ’s suffering – but we do it with conviction, faith, and hope.

The suffering we face today is part of our transformation as disciples.  We engage the challenges of this life, not because we welcome pain, but because we see God’s hand at work in our struggles to purify our hearts and desires.  Through this process we offer our lives, following the example of Jesus Christ to bring life to those in our midst.

Drink from the cup.  Consider the sufferings of today as an offering to the Lord – given out of love that our lives might be transformed into the image and likeness of Christ!

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La crucifixion, Philippe de Champaigne; 1644-1646, 800 x 600 pixels.

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April 3, 2015

Good Friday – The Cross of Christ – Catholic Inspiration

By Fr. Andrew Ricci

Three Great Things

Fr. Andrew’s Good Friday Homily Podcast (10 minutes)

This homily was given on April 3, 2015 at the Cathedral of Christ the King in Superior, WI.

The Cross of Christ – ugly, filthy with the blood of countless victims, jagged, and splintered – becomes the sign of the depth and breadth of agony Jesus endured.  As he embraces his suffering, the Cross becomes a bridge whereby he unites with all humanity, meeting us in our most profound moments of weakness and sin, and gives us hope through his triumph over death.

We must understand the Cross in the light of Easter joy:

  • For if we only focus on the Cross then we have no hope; life becomes dark and filled with despair.
  • And if we only focus on Easter joy then we have no respect for the gift of the Lord’s Passion; we do not appreciate the price that was paid for our salvation.

We look to the Cross and allow Christ’s Passion to touch our lives.  We unite with Jesus and give grateful thanks that he has redeemed us in every aspect of our lives.

Come to the Cross and unite your heart to the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ.

Be redeemed by Love Himself, who gave his life to save and set us free.

 

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April 3, 2015

Good Friday – Sacrifice & Support

By Fr. Andrew Ricci

Crucifixion

Study:  Where have I made sacrifices in my life?  What do these sacrifices reveal about my values and priorities?

Pray:  Reflect on those who are suffering right now.  Draw near to them in your prayer, asking the Lord to give them strength.

Serve:  Who is carrying a cross in your life today?  How can you help them?

Good Friday Readings

Fr. Andrew’s Homily Podcast (10 minutes)

For what would you give your life?  For who?

Perhaps this is too extreme as a starting point.  Perhaps the first question should be where in my life have I made consistent sacrifices?  Where in my life have I given up something because I believed in something more important?

Sacrifices reveal the depth and character of our heart.  They show our values, principles, and convictions in straightforward and direct ways.  Our sacrifices quickly point out the hidden parts of our soul – either to be confirmed/denied by the words we speak – and proclaim to others our inner self.

In general sacrifice means giving our lives – sometimes in simple service, minor inconveniences, labors of love, seasons of selflessness, or in extreme cases: offering our lives.  We make sacrifices all the time.

So did Christ.

As we read the Passion of the Lord today we discover the love Christ has for every human soul; the Lord willingly hung upon the Cross for our sins – sacrificing his innocent life for the pains and hurts we have inflicted upon one another.  His sacrifice reveals his love for us (even on our worst days) as something so precious that it is worth all the pain and humiliation that the devil could provide.

Where do we see ourselves in the Passion?  What crosses have we been given to carry – participating in some small way with the Cross of Christ?  Or are we like Simon of Cyrene or Veronica – assisting with others in their own journey to Calvary?  Are we making sacrifices or offering support for others in their need?  We read the Passion every year on Good Friday to remind ourselves not only of what the Lord has done for us, but also that we, too, have a part to play.  Our crosses participate in the Cross of Christ; our support for one another shares in the comfort which others offered to Jesus.

May this Good Friday drive us to our knees – thanking the Lord for what he did for us, and inspiring us to walk willingly with others in their need.

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The crucifixion, Pieter Lastman; 1616, Museum het Rembrandthuis, Amsterdam, Netherlands.

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March 31, 2015

Holy Week Preparations

By Fr. Andrew Ricci

Holy Week

Pastoral Note: This post was originally given on April 12, 2014.  I share it once again in the hope that all of us will enter more fully into the gift of this sacred time.  Fr. Andrew

Study:  Recall a time in your life when you experienced death and new life.  Where did you find the strength?  Who helped you through this time?

Pray:  Spend some time reflecting on the death and resurrection of Jesus this week.  Read Mark 14-16; Matthew 26-28; Luke 22-24; and John 18-21.  Take in as many prayer opportunities as possible in your parish.

Serve:  Who in your life is dealing with life and death issues right now?  How might you be present to them to offer help, comfort, or strength?

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We enter into the heart of the Christian mystery: Holy Week offers us a time to pause, reflect, and pray as the Church ponders on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

This mystery, often called the Paschal Mystery, recalls us to the saving work of the Lord.  His death frees of from the burdens of sin and death, and his resurrection opens for us the path to eternal life.  This mystery is profoundly experienced over the Triduum – the 3 Great Days:

  • Holy Thursday – the Mass of the Lord’s Supper
  • Good Friday – the Passion of the Christ
  • Easter (Vigil/Day) – the Resurrection of the Lord

On Holy Thursday we find ourselves in Jerusalem, eating with the disciples at the Lord’s Supper and feeling awkward as he washes their feet – wondering how we would react if he did that for us.  We might identify with Peter or Judas – especially when we consider the times we have willingly betrayed or turned our back on the Lord.

On Good Friday we experience the physical pain, emotional abandonment, and personal humiliation on the path to Calvary (also called Golgotha or Skull Place) and look on with horror at the cruel death of Jesus.  We might also consider the times we have helped others – as Simon did when he was forced to carry the Cross of Christ.    And then we stand in profound sorrow with Mary, the Mother of Jesus, helpless as the innocent suffer injustice.

On Easter we wait in vigil and rise early in the morning with Mary Magdalen, only to find to our wonder and joy that the tomb is empty:  Christ is alive!  Our world, like that of the apostles, is changed forever as we experience new hope and life.

A word to the wise – we get out of Holy Week what we put into it.  Here are some simple ways for an incredible experience.

  • Make church services a top priority – Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter (Vigil or Day).
  • Take time to read and reflect on the scriptures (see at the top under “Pray”).
  • Make Holy Thursday an opportunity to offer a special act of service or kindness to another.
  • Make Good Friday fasting extra special with a gift to a particular charity that helps the poor.
  • Make Easter a time of gratitude – take a quiet moment to count our blessings and thank the Lord.
  • Find some time throughout this week to tell the people in our lives how much we love them.

May this be a time for all of us to grow closer to the Lord and one another.

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February 9, 2015

6th Sunday of the Year – Suffering: Part II

By Fr. Andrew Ricci

XIR222724

Study:  Reflect on wounded relationships in your life.  What needs to be done to bring them healing?

Pray:  Ask the Lord for the grace to bring healing to the relationships in your life, especially where suffering has caused misunderstanding or fear has led to doubt and uncertainty.

Serve:  Are there people in your life that are struggling in their relationships?  How can you be a bridge that fosters unity and reconciliation?

6th Sunday of the Year Readings

Fr. Andrew’s Homily Podcast

Last week I focused on the personal nature of suffering.  When we are in pain, when we hurt, we can easily focus on ourselves.  This is not necessarily a bad thing; suffering can help us confront reality and strive for healing and wholeness.  In our suffering we are aware of blessings that we may have taken for granted – our sight can become sharper as we realize the gifts that have been lavished upon us.

There is another dimension of suffering, however.  Suffering commonly affects relationships; when one person suffers, it is often the case that others suffer as well.  Consider the following:

  • Physical suffering can keep us from human touch/contact
  • Intellectual distress can cause us to lash out in doubt and misunderstanding
  • Emotional anguish can prevent us from connecting with others because of fear and anger
  • Spiritual suffering can obscure our values and beliefs with God and others

There are countless examples, but the point is clear – the pain and anguish a person suffers can directly affect relationships with God and one another.  Suffering can become an obstacle that blocks us from the very persons who can bring healing and relief.  Often the greatest wound from suffering is isolation: in our weakness we withdraw from the very people who can help us the most.

The 1st Reading, Responsorial Psalm, and Gospel today reveal both the obstacles of suffering and the bridges that God makes possible through healing grace.  In the face of suffering the Lord comes, not just to bring healing to a person, but healing to the relationships among persons.  God longs not only to renew our lives but the lives around us as well.  Where suffering brings isolation the Lord brings unity – drawing us together in reconciliation and love.

This communal aspect of suffering thus begs two questions for our consideration:

  1. Is suffering affecting relationships in my life right now?
  2. How can I invite the Lord to bring healing/reconciliation?

When the Jesus healed the leper in the Gospel today, he did more than give the man back his health – he gave back his relationships as well.  The man (formerly cut off from human society) is now restored to his family, his friendships, and his participation in the community.  His life has been restored.

As we look to our own encounters with suffering we keep an eye to the ways in which our relationships are harmed/healed.  May we call upon the grace of Christ to touch our lives, and bless the lives of those around us.

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