Episode 2621: The Power of Suffering and the Pursuit of Peace - Morning Episode

The Power of Suffering and the Pursuit of Peace
We are really soft today. You will notice that if you practice the faith many will say “Enough”. Yet why was the faith of our grandparents strong and why were the unapologetic? Then why did our parent’s generation start to go soft and then our generation went softer and now we have a generation that isn’t soft they simply don’t know but they are starting to pick up where our grand-parents generation left off. The book of Baruch that Sharon I just covered shows us this trend is constant through church history including the old testament all the way through today. People will fall away if we do not stop the slipper slope of faithful laziness. In short, we can never do enough, we can never teach enough, we can never move discussions from worthless discussions of our secular world and lives to that of Christ. But yet people refuse to do it, why? Because they are living in a world of pure modernism and relativism and a world that refuses to acknowledge to why they were born. Yet they take their secular lives so very serious and their duties of state over their duties to Christ. So don’t ever stop spreading Christ words and never back off until we reverse the slippery slop that previous generations created, be the leader in getting us back to Christ and never ever apologize for it and above all never negotiate with terrorists whether they are in our church or outside. Please, please, stop putting your faith in an isolated bucket that you only pour out when it is convenient to do so. Do you not know that all you are was given to you and so stop acting as if it is yours to give.
Today’s discussion will focus on a theme that lies at the very heart of Christianity: suffering, peace, and perseverance in faith.
We often think of peace as the absence of conflict, but the saints and Scripture teach us something deeper peace is found in the midst of suffering when we unite ourselves with Christ. St. John Fisher once said, 'Is it not a wonderful thing, that he that is the Lord and author of all liberty, would thus be bound with ropes and nailed hand and foot unto the Cross?' His words remind us that true freedom comes through Christ’s sacrifice and His willing embrace of suffering for our salvation.
Similarly, Thomas á Kempis tells us that peace isn’t achieved by avoiding adversity but by humbly bearing it. And in 2 Timothy, we are reminded that all who desire to live in Christ will face persecution. But despite these challenges, we are called to remain faithful. So today, we’ll explore how we, as Catholics, can find peace in suffering, live in harmony with others even those who oppose us and persevere in our faith through every trial.
Let’s begin with St. John Fisher’s profound meditation on Christ’s passion. He says, 'Is it not a wonderful thing, that he that is the Lord and author of all liberty, would thus be bound with ropes and nailed hand and foot unto the Cross?' It’s a humbling reminder that Christ, who could have called down legions of angels to free Him, willingly submitted to His suffering for our sake. The One who grants freedom to all of humanity allowed Himself to be bound and crucified so that we could be liberated from the chains of sin.
There’s a powerful message for us in this: True liberty is found not in avoiding suffering but in embracing it when it is united to the Cross. Christ transformed the meaning of suffering by making it the pathway to redemption. For us, this means that every trial, every hardship, and even every contradiction we face can be an opportunity to unite ourselves more fully with Christ.
This is especially important to remember in today’s world, where we are often encouraged to flee from anything difficult or painful. But the Catholic faith calls us to something higher a willingness to endure suffering for the sake of Christ, knowing that through it, we are being purified and drawn closer to Him.
Thomas á Kempis builds on this idea by teaching us how to find peace amid suffering and adversity. He says, 'You must first have peace in your own soul before you can make peace between other people... those who can best suffer will enjoy the most peace, for such persons are masters of themselves, lords of the world, with Christ for their friend, and heaven as their reward.' These words remind us that peace doesn’t come from avoiding conflict or seeking agreement with everyone. True peace is an interior state that comes from surrendering to God’s will, accepting suffering with humility, and trusting in His providence.
Thomas á Kempis also points out that it’s easy to live in peace with those who are kind and agreeable, but the real test of virtue comes when we are faced with the aggressive, the perverse, or those who contradict us. This is where grace comes into play remaining peaceful and charitable in the face of opposition requires a great deal of strength, and it is a strength that comes from God alone.
In our lives, we often encounter people or situations that test our patience, our faith, and our sense of peace. It’s in these moments that we’re called to draw closer to Christ, to become masters of ourselves through prayer and reliance on God’s grace, and to remember that our peace isn’t dependent on external circumstances but on the state of our souls.
This brings us to the words of St. Paul in 2 Timothy 3:12-15: 'In fact, all who want to live religiously in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.' St. Paul doesn’t sugarcoat the reality of the Christian life it involves suffering, persecution, and adversity. But he also gives us a reason to hope: we are called to remain faithful, to hold fast to what we’ve learned and believed. This is how we persevere by grounding ourselves in the sacred scriptures and in the faith passed down to us.
It’s important to recognize that the world, as St. Paul says, will continue to grow worse. We see this around us today wickedness, deceit, and a rejection of Christian values seem to be on the rise. But as Catholics, we are not called to despair or to retreat from the world. We are called to remain steadfast in the faith, trusting that God’s grace will sustain us through every trial.
In the end, our faithfulness in the face of persecution, our willingness to bear suffering with peace, and our reliance on Christ in the Blessed Sacrament will lead us to our ultimate reward eternal life with Him in heaven.
Conclusion
As we conclude today’s episode, I want to leave you with these key takeaways: First, suffering is not something to be feared or avoided but embraced when united with Christ’s suffering on the Cross. In it, we find true freedom and redemption. Second, peace comes not from avoiding adversity but from humbly bearing it with the help of God’s grace, as Thomas á Kempis teaches us. And third, we must remain faithful to what we’ve learned from Scripture and Tradition, trusting that even in the face of persecution, God will guide and sustain us.
In a world that constantly seeks comfort and ease, we are called to something higher a life of faith that is willing to endure hardship for the sake of Christ. And in doing so, we find a peace that surpasses all understanding.

Closing Prayer
Heavenly Father,
We thank You for the example of Your Son, Jesus Christ,
who willingly embraced suffering on the Cross to bring us salvation.
Grant us the grace to unite our own sufferings with His,
so that we may grow closer to Him and find true peace in the midst of trials.
Help us to be instruments of peace in the world,
especially when faced with adversity and opposition.
May we, like St. Paul, remain faithful to what we have learned and believed,
trusting in Your providence and relying on the strength of Your grace.
Guide us always, and lead us to our eternal home with You in heaven.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen."
Thank you for joining me today. I hope you found this discussion encouraging and inspiring. Remember, peace comes from Christ, even in suffering, and we can trust Him to carry us through every challenge. Until next time, may God bless you and keep you in His grace."