Suffering yet inspiring?

Reading this title one may ask, can my physical suffering, which may be terribly painful, still inspire onlookers? You can immediately follow up with, “which one?” because we can suffer in body (physical) and spirit (moral) and soul (spiritual). All of them can, we usually respond.

In elementary catechesis our response is, yes, it can inspire if the suffering and pain and its effects are like that of Jesus Christ from flogging to crucifixion on Calvary. They brought about the “conversion” of the Roman centurion and other witnesses of the suffering of Jesus. Two effects were reported by the Gospel writers. One, they exclaimed, “Truly, you are the Son of God” (Mark and Luke). Two, “others went away beating their breast” (Mathew and John).

I invite everyone to reflect on the effects of the suffering of Jesus on the Cross and discern the inspiring reason for the conversion. Let’s ask the help of the saints and martyrs especially of San Lorenzo de Manila and San Pedro Calungsod.