Two Kinds of Sufferings

We can consider suffering as a problem and as a mystery. When suffering is viewed as a human problem we usually analyze its causes and effects and discuss possible solutions. We usually look to science to help us solve the problem. Scientific solutions are human efforts, purely human activities.

Suffering considered as mystery is part of God’s plan for the salvation of the world. This plan was revealed later in the suffering of Jesus which we call the Paschal Mystery‎ which are his passion, death, and resurrection. Mystery is actually a solution to human problems.

Many people, Catholics included, cannot see clearly how ‎the paschal mystery will solve human problems. How for example can the suffering of Jesus solve the problem of injustice, social and structural, which is what Pope Francis calls “scandalous inequality”? This is the root of most of human problems.

The key to the answer is the resurrection of Jesus. Because Jesus resurrected, that is, he overcame physical pain and suffering by coming to life again. Hence Christian life should happen in terms of transition, passover or passage from death-like problems.

To solve then these problems one must follow, that is, “to die to sin”, to avoid doing wrong to oneself and to others. This is making a transition, a passage or passover like from darkness to light, from slavery to freedom, etc.

This is what Christians must experience on Easter Sunday. ‎We hope.