B
blackcoffee411
Guest
I am just wondering if Jesus feels additional pain when I turn away from Him and sin.
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J
JRKH
Guest
This is a difficult question to answer, dealing as it does with different realities and perspectives, ours and God’s. I will try to answer in the way most helpful to you.
Christ died once and for all for all our sins past present and future. He took all of that on to himself on Calvary. So in that sense, in that time and place, he already felt the pain which ended with his death.
However, Christ’s passion is an ongoing thing in the sense that all of the sins being committed still are painful to God, they hurt and displease Him whom we are to Love above All.
So you see there are different “senses” about this.
Your question is a good one in that you seem to be concerned that you will cause Jesus “additional” pain by sinning. This is a good view. However Let me offer something better.
The way I view this is to picture Christ carrying His cross. (Something He asks us to do also.) If I sin, it is as if I am running away like the disciples, letting him carry the cross all by himself. On theother hand, if I don’t sin, if I struggle not to sin and instead do charitalbe loving acts in accordance with His will, then I am helping to carry the cross, making his load lighter, even if in a miniscule way.
So what I try to do is to “lighten his load”, the load of all worldy sin, by not only not sinning myself, but by showing Christ to the world in Love.
In short, instead of thinking about the pain I might be inflicting, I think about how I might alleviate His suffering.
Perhaps a better question would be, Do you feel agony, for having failed in Love, when you sin?
Hope this helps.
Peace
James
Christ died once and for all for all our sins past present and future. He took all of that on to himself on Calvary. So in that sense, in that time and place, he already felt the pain which ended with his death.
However, Christ’s passion is an ongoing thing in the sense that all of the sins being committed still are painful to God, they hurt and displease Him whom we are to Love above All.
So you see there are different “senses” about this.
Your question is a good one in that you seem to be concerned that you will cause Jesus “additional” pain by sinning. This is a good view. However Let me offer something better.
The way I view this is to picture Christ carrying His cross. (Something He asks us to do also.) If I sin, it is as if I am running away like the disciples, letting him carry the cross all by himself. On theother hand, if I don’t sin, if I struggle not to sin and instead do charitalbe loving acts in accordance with His will, then I am helping to carry the cross, making his load lighter, even if in a miniscule way.
So what I try to do is to “lighten his load”, the load of all worldy sin, by not only not sinning myself, but by showing Christ to the world in Love.
In short, instead of thinking about the pain I might be inflicting, I think about how I might alleviate His suffering.
Perhaps a better question would be, Do you feel agony, for having failed in Love, when you sin?
Hope this helps.
Peace
James
J
JRKH
Guest
I’m a little curious here.
if I had said simply that our sins do not add to Jesus Agony or that Jesus does not “Still feel agony”, do you think it would make have made it easier for you to sin?
Peace
James
if I had said simply that our sins do not add to Jesus Agony or that Jesus does not “Still feel agony”, do you think it would make have made it easier for you to sin?
Peace
James
B
blackcoffee411
Guest
Thanks for your response James, the imagery of Jesus’ ongoing Passion and Him being left alone while carrying his cross are powerful.
My answer to your second question is, regretfully, yes. I am guilty of abusing God’s mercy because I know he will forgive me. When facing temptation I feel I need some image or thought of Christ’s suffering to find the strength to turn away from sin.
My answer to your second question is, regretfully, yes. I am guilty of abusing God’s mercy because I know he will forgive me. When facing temptation I feel I need some image or thought of Christ’s suffering to find the strength to turn away from sin.
J
JRKH
Guest
I’m glad that the imagery suggested by my post was helpful to you.
Ah - Yes I understand. You are wise to understand this and to ask for help and clarification.
When I become aware of some temptation that I am trying to fight, I ask God to “take me to the foot of the cross”. It’s interesting in that I don’t really look up at Our Lord, so much as I see the cross and wet soaked ground as if from rain. It is dark and sometimes I even “smell” the sweat and blood. At least I have a very strong sense of it. On occasion I will look up to see His feet nailed and dripping blood, but rarely do I try to look higher. It is enough to divert me from wanting to sin.
One of the great things about these images is that they are not based upon the idea of, “avoiding punishment”, but rather on the idia of not, “inflicting pain”. This is a better perspective because it means I’m not acting as much out of fear of punishment as I am out of Love for God.
If you can, I would like to suggest you aquire a copy of the book in my signature. I did not write it, I get no money for promoting it. I own a copy myself and quite frankly I believe what I wrote below. It is the best book on spirituality I’ve ever read. It is a large book, but easy to read.
Peace
James
B
blackcoffee411
Guest
Hi James … Just a note to let you know I picked up the book you recommended. I’ve read the first chapter (on my Kindle) and so far I am excited. Thanks for the recommendation!
J
JRKH
Guest
Great -
I had the same reaction right from the first page.
I firmly believe that you will not read it just once. It’s that good and vital and easy to read.
Peace
James
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