It seems to me that “making up what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ” implies that there was something lacking in his redemption. Now, I’m not the only one who has a problem with this. Many a theologian, far more advanced than I has found real issue with this thought.
So, how about a new twist?
If all of us together are Christ’s body (mystically) and individually members of it, then I can understand in a very visceral, very personal way what might be lacking in Christ’s sufferings for the church.
I don’t like suffering. I don’t like failure. And frankly, if I can avoid it in any way, I tend to choose that route. But I have had moments where I cannot avoid it anymore and I must face the suffering. And I nearly always fall short of the “elegant” way I think I should be embracing the cross in front of me.
Thank God! Why? Because it teaches me that it is not according to my strength that I can bear these trials and more often than not, I turn to him for fortitude and strength.
And somehow, it becomes Jesus who makes up what is lacking in my suffering.
Suffering is the window to heaven. Do you accept this challenge? The ones that do, understand happiness.
Mary, thank you for your comment…I add some additional comments on suffering below:
I think we, as Christians, do a great disservice to Christianity when we talk about suffering and sacrifice as the way to Heaven. There is only one “way”: Jesus Christ. And it is only our union with Him and likeness to Him that furthers us on our journey.
This path does take us through the desert of loneliness, and the forest of fear (both sufferings) but the point is never the suffering, but the encounter with Christ on each part of the path. If I just stay with the pain, I may forego some other beautiful moments of this journey–the oceans of mercy, the heights of contemplation and union. And even if I continue on the path faithfully through all joys and sorrows, I know, because of my sin, I will again find myself in the valleys of humiliation. (A great allegory of this is Hannah Hurnard’s “Hinds Feet on High Places”. )
The point is to find Jesus and encounter Him…and what an adventure this is!