FS #104: The Means, Part 9 – Dec 16 – Homily – Fr Terrance

 

Fr Terrance gives the homily at Bloomington, IN, on Dec 16, 2024, on how suffering in Christ unites us with His redemptive love, transforming trials into a path of holiness.

This is a continuation of his series on Franciscan spirituality, and the subsection, "The Means," as in the means to obtain the goals of spirituality, which is union with God. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNN151zTIO4&list=PLejh_e0-LN4xgMllKrzSasL2Hljd5BHom

Father's homily reflects on suffering as a core aspect of Franciscan spirituality and a means to unite with Christ. Following St. Francis of Assisi's example, suffering is seen not as a burden but as a holy participation in Christ's redemptive passion. This idea is deeply connected to Colossians 1:24 — "Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ's afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the Church" (Colossians 1:24 - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/colossians/1?24).

Father highlights how St. Francis yearned to share in Christ's suffering and identified this as a path to deeper love and unity with Jesus. Suffering, when united with Christ's, contributes to the salvation of others, echoing Paul's teaching on the mystical body of Christ in Acts 9:4-5 ("I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting" - Acts 9:4-5 - https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/9?4).

The homily emphasizes that through baptism, each believer is united to Christ's body, sharing in His sufferings and offering them for the redemption of the world. Father draws from St. Angela of Foligno and St. Francis, showing how they saw suffering as a divine invitation to compassion. He urges us to view suffering through the lens of divine love and grace, as a call to holiness and participation in Christ's mission.

Catechism and Further Readings
Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 618): Christ's death as a redemptive sacrifice for the whole world.
Text: http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/618.htm

CCC 1368: The Mass extends Christ's sacrifice.
Text: http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/1368.htm

CCC 2015: Union with Christ through trials.
Text: http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/para/2015.htm

Catholic Answers - "God's Love for You" - Understanding suffering in Christ - https://www.catholic.com/tract/gods-love-for-you.

The material for this series comes primarily from Ciccarelli, Marciano M., "I capisaldi della spiritualità francescana" in Italian, which translates as "The Cornerstones of Franciscan Spirituality." No English translations of this book exist at the time of this recording.

Ave Maria!

Mass: Monday in the 3rd Week in Advent - Wkdy
Readings:  - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/121624.cfm
1st: gen 49:2, 8-10
Resp: psa 72:3-4, 7-8, 17
Gsp: mat 1:1-17

More on the Readings: https://airmaria.com/r?m=1259

Also on Facebook:
and YouTube: https://youtu.be/7Fyz8Gut-U8

00:00 – Introduction
00:08 – Franciscan Spirituality and Suffering
00:25 – St. Francis’ Passion for Christ
01:18 – Sharing in Christ’s Redemptive Suffering
03:00 – Christ’s Suffering Continues Through Us
06:27 – Seeing Suffering Through God’s Eyes