Good Friday, 2020

Do not think of these sufferings as though something strange were happening to you.  St. Peter

I do not consider these present sufferings worthy of being compared to the glory that is yet to be revealed.  St. Paul

Both Peter and Paul were familiar with suffering.  Death in Christ was their way of life, just as it was for so many others, like Meister Eckhart, were familiar with the way of the cross.

Eckhart was born around 1260. He was considered to be a heretic and was condemned as such by the pope in 1329.  In my opinion that places him in good company with others who came before him, like Origin, as well as those like Luther who would follow.  His writings are intended not so much to give answers but to raise questions.  One of his primary propositions is that the God who can be known is not the true God.  On this Good Friday I’d like to share seven teachings of Eckhart on the topic of suffering.

First is that patience in suffering is “better, dearer, higher and nobler than everything we can take away from a person against their will.” I interpret this to mean that the benefits we receive from suffering are eternal and therefore greater than any material and temporal ones that we receive.

Second is that God promises to be with us in a very unique and intimate way in suffering.  If God is with us in such a fashion, what more could we want? “If God is for us, who can be against us?”

Third is that because God is with us in our suffering that means He is suffering with us.  This is significant, for herein we encounter and experience the God of eternal empathy.

Fourth, when one suffers they may be comforted and consoled by a friend.  How much more comforting is the consolation of Christ who suffers for and with us.  2 Corinthians 1:4-6

Fifth, if in love one is willing to suffer for others, how much more should one be willing to suffer for God!

Sixth, if God has suffered already before we ever suffer, truly all of our sufferings will be turned to joy, just as they were for Him and as He has promised for us. Hebrews 12:2

Seventh, because it is part of God’s nature to suffer in Christ, for those who also suffer in Christ they are experiencing the very nature of God in a most intimate fashion.

“So suffer in this way for God’s sake”, Eckhart concludes, “Since this is so greatly profitable and brings such blessedness.  How can God, who loves goodness, suffer his friends, who are good people, not to be in suffering always and without ceasing?”