How can we approach trials and suffering with faith?
How do we remain hopeful and joyful in the midst of a society that seems to be turning away from — or, at best, becoming more indifferent toward — Jesus? The answer is obvious: the cross.
The cross stands at the heart of Christian hope, not as a symbol of defeat or despair but as the ultimate emblem of victory and redemption. It reminds us of God’s transformative power to bring triumph out of tragedy. The message of the cross is that even the darkest moments of human experience can be redeemed and infused with purpose, beauty and grace through Jesus Christ.
At its core, Christian hope is rooted in the assurance that God is present in our suffering and working all things together for good (Romans 8:28). Jesus’ journey to Calvary was marked by betrayal, injustice and unimaginable physical and emotional pain. From a worldly perspective, the crucifixion appeared to be the ultimate failure — the death of a man who claimed to bring salvation. Yet, through the resurrection, the cross was revealed to be the means of ultimate victory over sin and death.
Jesus’ triumph over the cross offers believers profound hope; it declares that suffering does not have the final word. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus conquered the powers of darkness, ensuring that pain, loss and death are not the end of the story for those who trust in Him. This victory invites Christians to face their trials with confidence, knowing that their suffering can be redeemed for God’s glory and their growth.
The cross serves as a model for how Christians are called to navigate suffering. Jesus’ obedience to the Father, even unto death, demonstrates a trust in God’s greater plan and purpose. Hebrews 12:2 urges believers to “look to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”
This hope is crucial in modern evangelization challenges. Faced with a lack of resources, declining faith and scandals that have shaken the Church, Christians are called to remain hope-filled evangelists. These obstacles, while daunting, are opportunities to witness to the transformative power of the cross. Just as Jesus overcame the ultimate trial, so too can the Church persevere and renew herself through the same hope and power of His resurrection. By focusing on Christ’s victory, evangelists can courageously proclaim the Gospel, trusting that God’s grace is sufficient and His power is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).
This is a challenge to me as a priest as well. I’ve never known the priesthood without scandal (not that the apostles did either!). The scandals have caused distrust between the people of God and the clergy, and many clergy and their bishops. Priests today are doing their best to evangelize while managing infrastructure decline. With fewer priests being ordained, the demands on a priest are, at best, challenging, and, at worst, unrealistic. One could be very discouraged by this, and it might be tempting to say, “This isn’t what I signed up for.” But isn’t it? Hasn’t Jesus called me to this moment?
If Jesus wants me to spend my priesthood restoring trust instead of presuming it, shouldn’t I accept that? If I am called to help move from one mode of evangelization to another, but never see the full fruits of my labor, shouldn’t I be OK with that? The struggle is that I want to be able to choose the time, place and type of cross I think is best instead of accepting the one that He has presented. Maybe these are the doorways to my own holiness and the opportunity to witness to hope!
The circumstances we face are opportunities God gives us at this moment. We can either flee from life’s struggles and try to find solace in distraction, pleasure, money, success or some other fleeting thing. Or, we can embrace the struggle with Christian hope, knowing that the final victory is won.
After Mass when the priest processes to the back of church, we often say this prayer: “We adore you, O Christ, and we praise you, because by your holy cross you have redeemed the world.”
Because of the cross, not despite it, I hope.
