How should Christians approach suffering, especially in Lent when it takes on a renewed focus through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving? This question is even more important as our culture seems to see suffering as something to avoid at all costs or something that only distracts from our purpose, flourishing, or meaning. Lent, however, allows us as Christians to renew our sense of purpose in suffering and see it in light of the Resurrection at Easter.
Lent partakes in the suffering of this life, in a way that is contrary to our culture. For instance, in Sources of the Self, Catholic philosopher Charles Taylor notes that our modern world places importance on avoiding suffering. Of course, there are benefits that come from this, but this observation has stuck with me over the past few years. If suffering is seen as something to be avoided, we can miss the purpose of suffering, or behind suffering, that we experience in our lives.
Instead, as Christians, suffering takes on a deeper purpose in light of the Resurrection. Lent brings out the purpose of suffering in a new way as we graft our sufferings onto Christ’s. In Lent, we recall Christ’s suffering, following him into the desert through the disciplines of fasting, almsgiving, and prayer. Spiritual masters like Aquinas have noted that these practices, far from forcing us to look in ourselves, free our bodies and minds to look to “the contemplation of heavenly things” (ST, II-II, 147.1).
Lent is also a reminder that our suffering is not a failure, but an unavoidable aspect of this present life. In describing what it is like to be his disciple, Christ says, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it” (Luke 9: 23-24). If we seek an easy life, we will miss out on becoming disciples of Christ.
Lent does not glorify suffering for its own sake. Christ’s suffering was necessary, but it ultimately led to his Resurrection and victory over sin and death. The reality of his Resurrection, the promise that all things will be made new and suffering will be no more, is the ultimate truth. Thus, every Sunday in Lent, we take a break from fasting to celebrate Christ’s Resurrection. As someone who can be prone to see the suffering, rather than the joy in life, I need this reminder to celebrate the goodness in life. Easter, as the greatest feast in the liturgical calendar, puts this celebration on full display. Despite how I feel, in the midst of whatever suffering I may experience, I can do more than imagine myself happy. I can celebrate the reality that death and sin and suffering have an end. We can ask with Saint Paul: “Where, O death, is your sting?” (1 Corinthians 15:55).
