What’s Lacking in Christ’s Suffering?
Dear Sisters & Brothers in Christ,
St. Paul says, “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body, which is the church…” (Col 1:24). Is St. Paul implying that somehow the Lord’s passion, death and resurrection was not enough for our salvation?
For some, this passage from St. Paul is troubling. It challenges the notion that nothing need be added to the finished work of Christ. Catholics, especially, are often accused of trying to add to the finished work of Christ by their own works, as if Jesus’ death on the cross was not sufficient for our forgiveness. Paul is in no way implying that Jesus somehow fell short of what He was sent to do.
But, St. Paul is revealing his sincere belief that the Church is not merely a gathering of like-minded individuals, or even a human organization whose members profess the same creed. Rather, St. Paul understands that the Church is a great mystery; it is the mystical body of Christ. Paul’s dramatic encounter with the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus deeply impacted Paul’s understanding of the Church. He understood that to persecute one of Jesus’ followers is analogous to persecuting Christ Himself. Jesus identifies that closely with the Church. Jesus is the head of the Mystical Body and you and I, the believers, are the Body’s many parts.
In baptism we become configured to Christ; we become members of His mystical body, the Church. We are called to be “other Christs.” We are to grow in holiness, by God’s grace, so that we can be the hands, feet and voice of Christ in our world today. In John’s Gospel, Jesus said to His disciples, “as the Father sent me, so I send you” (Jn 20:21).
So, what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ? Only one thing – our participation, the willingness of believers to take up the cross and follow Jesus; to join our struggles, hardships and sufferings with His, offering them for our salvation and that of the whole world. He came to give our lives meaning – even our suffering!
Sincerely yours in Christ Jesus, the Way, the Truth and the Life,
