SCIC Triduum Day 2: The Peace of Christ in Times of Trial
Trials and tribulations are an inevitable part of life; none of us is exempt. Believing in Christ is not a guarantee of a life free from hardship. Like anyone else, we may face financial or career difficulties, broken marriages, estranged relationships, illness and other painful challenges that affect us emotionally, mentally and physically. Often, these burdens can leave a person feeling overwhelmed and without hope.
How, then, should we as Christians understand suffering and face life’s trials?
As Christians, we have a clear solution. We turn to Jesus, for it is only from Him that true peace comes. In Christ, we are never without hope. His peace does not mean the absence of pain or difficulty. It is the peace of the Resurrection—a peace that gives us the courage to face our trials and the wisdom to endure them faithfully in light of the glory of the Resurrection.
We see this courage in the lives of Saints Chastan and Imbert. Despite persecution and torture, they willingly surrendered themselves to the authorities to protect others. Their joy and courage came from their deep relationship with Christ and the unwavering belief in the salvation that He promised.
Fr David shared that, during particularly difficult periods in his ministry, he felt the desire to leave the priesthood on three occasions. Following the advice of another priest, he began spending an hour each day before the Blessed Sacrament. His prayer was simple: “Lord, here I am. I am troubled. I am suffering.” Then he listened in silence.
For two weeks, nothing seemed to change. In the third week, however, he began to feel lighter. In prayer, he felt Jesus reminding him that He had carried the Cross to Calvary, endured suffering and death, and then rose again to bring new life to the world. Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour, King of the Universe and almighty God, did not need to come into the world and suffer. Yet He chose to do so, to show us how to face the suffering we will encounter and to assure us that we are never alone.
Fr David felt the Lord inviting him to unite his own pain and struggles with His: “Participate in my suffering. Participate in my pain.” The fruit of this relationship with Christ was not that his difficulties instantly disappeared, but that he himself was transformed. He came to understand that Jesus was walking beside him, giving him the strength to persevere through every struggle.
This is the secret to lasting peace: a relationship with Christ. Jesus gives meaning to our suffering and teaches us that we can offer it in union with His suffering for the salvation of the world. He calls us to remain in Him to receive this peace that the world cannot give.
“Remain in me, as I remain in you” (John 15:4). We remain in Christ by receiving Him in the Eucharist and spending time with Him in adoration. The more time we spend in His presence, the deeper our relationship with Him becomes.
The peace of Christ is offered to everyone. His True Presence dwells in Tabernacles throughout the world, even in our very own parish. We need only open our hearts, accept His invitation of friendship and continue building our relationship with Him. Even when our trials remain, we can face them with confidence, knowing that our own walk to Calvary is never alone. (KA)
