Cierpienie w rozwoju duchowym chrześcijanina według Jana Pawła II

Abstract

John Paul II teaches that if suffering itself is an experience of evil, the answer provided to man by the Revelation to the question of its deepest sense leads to recognition of the phenomenon of suffering not only as favouring growth in faith, but as an ordinary and necessary element at every stage of the way to full Christian maturity. By discovering the supernatural sense of suffering, one becomes aware of its sense and role on the way to holiness. One realizes that suffering enables oneself to rise in the spiritual life, until one achieves deep unification with God, to whom He himself calls all people. Suffering leads repeatedly to conversion; it helps one to cleanse oneself of any imperfection disturbing the internal transformation; reinforcing humility, it leads one to recognize in one’s life only God’s power and to trust in it; deepens one’s personal relation with Christ; liberates love and urges one to make of oneself a selfless gift for others. Finally, co-suffering with Christ leads to co-resurrection with Him and to the expected participation in the Lord’s glory that is to be revealed. We want to emphasize, following John Paul II, that the Revelation shows suffering as a mystery included by Jesus Christ in the work of world Redemption, as the grace and tool that allows believers to collaborate - in unification with the Saviour - in carrying out God’s conception of salvation. This truth has not only huge practical significance in the personal dimension, but also in the common dimension. Apostolic involvement is a certain expression of authenticity of man’s spiritual life. The more Christians unite in love with Christ, the more they serve his Mystical Body - Church and the good of humankind.