Perhaps we still don't understand why the "good people" should suffer and so we now contemplate the suffering of the Just One of God.

Isaiah prophesied that the suffering of the Just One, which can only be the Messiah, because Israel was never seen as guiltless. Here we are faced with the mystery of the suffering of the "Man Without Sin" who is God's only Son in his humanity. Why did the Innocent One suffer? Isaiah tells us,

 

 

 

 

"He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed." (Is 53:5)

Please click image to hear "O Sacred Head" from Center of Church Music.

While Christ death on the Cross frees mankind from Sin which would have forever prevented participation in God's glory, it does not remove suffering in this world due to sin. It is by our sufferings that we participate in the suffering of Christ for the salvation of the world or as St. Paul wrote, "Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body, which is the church, in filling up what is lacking in Christ's afflictions." So we pray:in the words of St. Alphonsus Liguori:

My most beloved Jesus, I embrace all the sufferings You have destined for me until death. I beg You, by all You suffered in carrying Your cross, to help me to carry mine with Your in perfect peace and resignation. I love You, Jesus, my love; I repent for ever having offended You. Never let me separate from You again. Grant that I may love You always; and then do with me as You will. Amen.