Christ came to establish a new priesthood for a new covenant. Instead of offering the blood of animals, he offered his own blood while dying on the cross. The apostles came to understand this at the Last Supper, the night before Jesus died. He took a cup full of wine and said, “This is my blood, the blood of the new covenant, which is to be shed for many for the forgiveness of sins.”
On the cross, Jesus becomes both the priest and the victim. The Letter to the Hebrews says: “In Jesus, the Son of God, we have the supreme high priest who has gone through to the highest heaven.” As Isaiah the Prophet wrote: “He was pierced through for our faults, crushed for our sins. On him lies a punishment that brings us peace, and through his wounds we are healed.”
At the Last Supper, Jesus told his apostles that they were supposed to perpetuate his sacrifice. He told them: “Do this in memory of me.” He gave his apostles and their successors the unique mission of offering this sacrifice in his name.
The apostles told the first Christians that they too had to offer sacrifice. St Peter called it the “holy priesthood that offers the spiritual sacrifices”. He told the early Christians “you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a consecrated nation, a people set apart to sing the praises of God who called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.” Ordinary Christians make their offering to God by taking all their pain and sorrow, and saying. “God, I offer this to you.”
This is the reason why Christians do not fear suffering. This also explains the suffering of an innocent child. God can use all suffering to accomplish something wonderful in the lives of others.
Can your suffering really help someone else? St Paul expressed the mystery this way: “It makes me happy to suffer for you, as I am suffering now, and in my own body to do what I can to make up all that has still to be undergone by Christ for the sake of his body, the Church.”
When you have to suffer, it shouldn’t make you feel sorry for yourself. Instead, offer it to God. Tell him to use it to help others. Look at Jesus on the cross and tell him you’re ready to suffer together with him.
This article by Fr. Joe Babendreier first appeared in the Sunday Nation on 1st April 2012.