Bearing hardship

Some people say "How can there be a God when there is so much suffering in the world?"

People who are followers of a man named Jesus say that this guy told us that not only was suffering and hardship a natural part of life on this planet, but that he chose to suffer and die - and added that we should accept suffering and hardship if we want to have the inner happiness, inner peace and inner joy that comes from following him - and not the false "happiness" of seeking materialism and comfort ( Matthew 9,9) .

"In this world, which is to say in the Church wholly following Christ, he says to all of us: «Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself». This command is not being directed to virgins but not married women, to widows but not wives, to monks but not husbands, to priests but not laity. It is the whole Church, the whole Body of Christ with all its members, differentiated and divided according to their proper functions, that is to follow Christ. May she wholly follow him, she who is one alone, the dove, the bride (Sg 6,9); may she follow him, she who has been redeemed and endowed with the blood of her Bridegroom. Virginal purity has its place here; the continence of widows has its place here; wedded chastity has its place here...

These members who have their place here should follow Christ, each according to their category, each according to their status, each after its fashion. Let them deny themselves, that is to say let them not rely on themselves. Let them carry their cross, that is to say bear for Christ's sake in the world all that the world inflicts on them. May they love him, he the only one who never deceives or is deceived, the only one who is not mistaken. May they love him because what he promises is true. Yet because he does not give it to us now our faith falters. Keep going, persevere, bear and accept this delay, and you have carried his cross".

Saint Augustine (354-430), Bishop of Hippo (North Africa) and Doctor of the Church
Sermon 96, 9

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Education

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• warfare
• medicine
• Catholic
• Christian
• cross
• hardship
• sacrifice
• Jesus
• Christ