The Pope wished to come among you to
tell you that Christ, who is always close to those who suffer, calls
you to him. Even more: to tell you that you are called to be “other
Christs” and to take part in his mission of redemption. And what is
holiness if not to imitate Christ, and identify with him? Those who
approach suffering with a purely human vision cannot understand its
meaning and can easily fall into despair; at most they may reach a
point of accepting it with a melancholy resignation to the
inevitable. We Christians, on the other hand, instructed in faith,
know that suffering – if we offer it to God – can transform us
into an instrument of salvation and put us on a pathway to sanctity,
which leads us to Heaven. For a Christian, suffering is a cause not
for sorrow but for joy: the joy of knowing that on the Cross of
Christ every one of our sufferings has a redeeming value.
Today, too, the Lord calls us saying
“Come unto me, who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you
rest.” Therefore, turn your gaze to him, in the sure hope that he
will give you relief, that in him you will find consolation. Do not
be afraid to show him your sufferings, and sometimes even your
solitude; offer him this together with your your daily crosses, large
and small, and so – even if they frequently seem to you unbearable
– they will not weigh you down, because it is Christ himself who
will carry them for you: “Surely he has borne our griefs and
carried our sorrows.” Following Christ on this path, you will feel
the inner joy of doing God's will. It is a joy that is compatible
with sorrow because it is the joy of the children of God, who know
they are called to follow more nearly on the road to Golgotha.
- Pope St. John Paul the Great