Episode 2066: Embracing the Cross: Trials, Judgment, and Forgiveness

We delve into the depths of Catholic spirituality, seeking wisdom, solace, and guidance by drawing from the timeless words of Fulton Sheen, Saint John Henry Newman, and the Gospel of Matthew.
Fulton Sheen once said, "It is part of the discipline of God to make His loved ones perfect through trial and suffering. Only by carrying the Cross can one reach the Resurrection." These words point to the very essence of the Catholic faith, reminding us that our trials are not meaningless, but rather part of a divine process, leading us towards spiritual maturity and union with God.
Let's break down Fulton Sheen's quote from a traditional Catholic perspective:
"It is part of the discipline of God": In Catholic theology, God is often seen as a loving Father who disciplines His children for their growth and sanctification. This discipline can take the form of trials, challenges, and sufferings that we encounter in life. It's not punishment in a punitive sense but rather a means through which God molds and refines us.
"to make His loved ones perfect through trial and suffering": The ultimate goal of God's discipline is the perfection of His beloved children. In Catholic understanding, this perfection refers to becoming more like Christ, who is the perfect image of God. Trials and sufferings are seen as opportunities for spiritual growth, purification, and sanctification.
"Only by carrying the Cross can one reach the Resurrection": Here, Sheen draws a direct connection between the sufferings of Christ on the Cross and the Resurrection. In Catholic theology, the Cross is central to salvation. Jesus' sacrificial death on the Cross redeemed humanity, and His Resurrection opened the way to eternal life. Similarly, in our own lives, it's through embracing our crosses—our trials and sufferings—that we participate in the redemptive work of Christ and ultimately share in His resurrection glory.
Overall, Sheen's quote reflects a traditional Catholic perspective on suffering, emphasizing its transformative power when embraced in union with Christ's own suffering and sacrifice. It speaks to the Catholic understanding of redemptive suffering and the hope of resurrection that follows.
Now, lets transition to Saint John Henry Newman, in his characteristic eloquence, paints a vivid picture of the inevitable journey each of us must undertake—the evening of life, the moment of judgment. He speaks of a time when we stand alone before the Lord, our deeds laid bare for scrutiny. It's a sobering thought, isn't it? To confront ourselves fully, without the veils of self-deception or denial, to see ourselves as God sees us.
"Each of us must come to the evening of life. Each of us must enter on eternity. Each of us must come to that quiet, awful time, when we will appear before the Lord of the vineyard, and answer for the deeds done in the body, whether they be good or bad. That, my dear brethren, you will have to undergo. ... It will be the dread moment of expectation when your fate for eternity is in the balance, and when you are about to be sent forth as the companion of either saints or devils, without possibility of change. There can be no change; there can be no reversal. As that judgment decides it, so it will be for ever and ever. Such is the particular judgment. ... when we find ourselves by ourselves, one by one, in his presence, and have brought before us most vividly all the thoughts, words, and deeds of this past life. Who will be able to bear the sight of himself? And yet we shall be obliged steadily to confront ourselves and to see ourselves. In this life we shrink from knowing our real selves. We do not like to know how sinful we are. We love those who prophecy smooth things to us, and we are angry with those who tell us of our faults. But on that day, not one fault only, but all the secret, as well as evident, defects of our character will be clearly brought out. We shall see what we feared to see here, and much more. And then, when the full sight of ourselves comes to us, who will not wish that he had known more of himself here, rather than leaving it for the inevitable day to reveal it all to him!" —Saint John Henry Newman
Newman's words pierce through the comfortable illusions we often construct around our own righteousness. He speaks of the dread moment of expectation, when our fate for eternity hangs in the balance. Yet, amidst this solemnity, there's a glimmer of hope a call to self-awareness, to acknowledge our faults, our sins, before it's too late.
Now let me wrap up this episode from the Gospel of Matthew, we hear a powerful admonition on forgiveness. "If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions." These words, spoken by Christ himself, underscore the vital importance of forgiveness in our spiritual journey.
Forgiveness, it's often said, is the fragrance that the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it. Yet, it's also one of the most challenging aspects of our faith. How do we forgive those who have wronged us, who have caused us pain? How do we let go of resentment, of bitterness, and embrace the liberating power of forgiveness?
In the light of Sheen's wisdom, we can see forgiveness as another form of carrying our cross the Cross of Christ, who forgave even those who crucified him. In forgiving others, we participate in the redemptive work of Christ, freeing not only the offender but also ourselves from the chains of anger and resentment.
So, as we journey through life, let us embrace our trials as opportunities for growth, our judgment as a call to self-awareness, and forgiveness as the path to spiritual freedom. May the words of Sheen, Newman, and Christ himself guide us along the way, as we strive to walk the narrow path that leads to eternal life.
Thank you for joining me today on Embracing the Cross. Until next time, may God's grace and peace be with you always. Now go out and convert somebody. Their soul depends on it. Good day!