If you don't complain about your cross people think you are crazy- EWTN Sermon

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I was listening to a sermon on EWTN by a Priest , sorry I don’t know his name and I was only half listening because my daughter was talking to me, but I started to listen properly when this Priest started talking about perseverance. I am a great believer in persevering, so he peeked my interest. Anyway I am also a great believer in not complaining about my cross and I only talk about my cross(crosses) to a select few, one of them being Jesus. Well, to get to the point, this Priest said that anyone who goes about and seems to be sailing along with no problems and everything in their life and spiritual life is absolutely wonderful all of the time, then that is insanity, that person is insane.

Well I had to ask myself, am I insane?🙂

If I get the cross I accept it, if I get it I try not to complain though inside, I of course suffer, but outwardly to almost everyone on the planet I would look like that insane person the Priest was talking about because no-one knows (except for Jesus and three people, one, my mother, one a Priest and one a Religious Sister) just what goes on in the interior of me. If anyone asks about my welfare and how life is treating me I always just say ‘Yes, I can’t complain.’ because I don’t want to lie and they seem happy enough with that reply.

What does this Priest mean? Did anyone else hear this sermon? Can anyone help to explain it? Have I been doing the wrong thing by not complaining?

In the Living Prayer of my life
 
I don’t know what he meant and missed todays Mass. But yesterday on EWTN, a Priest cracked a joke “get off your cross, we need the wood” pertaining to those who complain about their crosses. Maybe the brothers are having a duel.🙂 I can only recall past crosses and almost don’t recognised any current one, if any. I really have to think hard , but only come up with the cross that Jesus had. I have been blessed lately with good fortune, thanks to the prayers of some of you folks and thanks be to God. Things have been so easy , I wonder if I’m off the thorny path at times. I don’t think your insane if you don’t speak of your cross, just concerned of others feelings, but remember even Jesus had help with carrying His cross. Tim
 
TOP said:
I don’t know what he meant and missed todays Mass. But yesterday on EWTN, a Priest cracked a joke “get off your cross, we need the wood” pertaining to those who complain about their crosses. Maybe the brothers are having a duel.🙂 I can only recall past crosses and almost don’t recognised any current one, if any. I really have to think hard , but only come up with the cross that Jesus had. I have been blessed lately with good fortune, thanks to the prayers of some of you folks and thanks be to God. Things have been so easy , I wonder if I’m off the thorny path at times. I don’t think your insane if you don’t speak of your cross, just concerned of others feelings, but remember even Jesus had help with carrying His cross. Tim
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Thanks Tim, I don’t like to burden other people, so many people have so much to endure with that I don’t like to say anything.

I also don’t like to complain because I want my little offerings to be pure when I unite them to the Cross of Jesus. I believed it was no good having the gift of the cross and then complaining about having that gift, but to be as thankful for it as I am thankful for having my faith, my family and friends and being able to go here and there and do the things I like, like my work and my art etc etc.

My Spiritual Director has encouraged this in me since I was praying and I was inspired in prayer not to complain about my cross.

In the Living Prayer of my life
 
I’m reminded of once when I was talking to a Priest about all my problems and I said I was sorry for unloading on him. He looked at me excited and said “you are helping me get to heaven”. Even if we need help with our crosses, it is serving a purpose. Tim
 
I think there might be a different between complaining and acknowledging our crosses. Telling everyone how horrible your life is and how everything is so unfair, etc etc, is definitely complaining. But letting close friends and/or family know that you’re honestly struggling with something isn’t always a bad idea. This gives them the chance to perhaps help you out or even just offer prayers and support, which are very Christian and generous things to do. They wouldn’t have the chance to do these acts of mercy(or whatever they’re called) if you didn’t tell them that you had these difficulties. I think adding qualifiers to certain complaints isn’t a bad idea either, like “The food at the cafeteria wasn’t very good today… but hey, it’s better than what a good chunk of the world’s population has to deal with.”

I think struggles might be like dealing with some kind of sickness or injury. You don’t just ignore a serious pain and hope it goes away(you shouldn’t, anyways). You tell the appropriate person, a doctor. Then your sickness can be treated. If it turns out it can’t be cured, or that you’re going to have to deal with the pain awhile longer before it gets better, then you can take that on as a silent cross, knowing that everything that could be done for it has been done.
I hope that makes sense. 😛
 
pumpkinbeast said:
I think there might be a different between complaining and acknowledging our crosses. Telling everyone how horrible your life is and how everything is so unfair, etc etc, is definitely complaining. But letting close friends and/or family know that you’re honestly struggling with something isn’t always a bad idea. This gives them the chance to perhaps help you out or even just offer prayers and support, which are very Christian and generous things to do. They wouldn’t have the chance to do these acts of mercy(or whatever they’re called) if you didn’t tell them that you had these difficulties. I think adding qualifiers to certain complaints isn’t a bad idea either, like “The food at the cafeteria wasn’t very good today… but hey, it’s better than what a good chunk of the world’s population has to deal with.”

I think struggles might be like dealing with some kind of sickness or injury. You don’t just ignore a serious pain and hope it goes away(you shouldn’t, anyways). You tell the appropriate person, a doctor. Then your sickness can be treated. If it turns out it can’t be cured, or that you’re going to have to deal with the pain awhile longer before it gets better, then you can take that on as a silent cross, knowing that everything that could be done for it has been done.
I hope that makes sense. 😛
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Wow yes I wouldn’t not see a doctor when I needed to or a dentist when I needed to etc, God created the doctor to help and heal.

I know what you are saying about acts of mercy and I’m not going about thinking I’ll be miserly and hoard opportunities away from people to carry out acts of kindness, mercy and charity. Like I say I do confide in Jesus, my birth mother, my Priest and my Spiritual Director who is a Religious Sister, but I don’t cofide in anyone else.

Say I was to have the flu, everyone can see by looking at me I have the flu, but I don’t complain about it and if asked how I am I’ll say ‘I can’t complain’ or say I was spoken badly to by someone and someone witnessed it and they said to me ‘That was awful, good grief, how do you feel?’ I’d smile and say ‘I can’t complain’ that’s how it goes. People are very kind to me and do lovely things in acts of kindness and mercy to me, I just don’t complain that’s all. I guess it gives the impression that I don’t suffer and that was what confused me with the Priests sermon, oh well.🙂

In the Living Prayer of my life
 
Actually, I’d probably count as one of those “insane” people because I never tell people any of the problems that are going on in my life, don’t ask or expect people to pray for me, and I certainly never say anything in great detail. The way I see it, they either don’t care, have their own issues to worry about, or they’re glad I have my problems. So I just don’t say anything.
 
THutch04 said:
Actually, I’d probably count as one of those “insane” people because I never tell people any of the problems that are going on in my life, don’t ask or expect people to pray for me, and I certainly never say anything in great detail. The way I see it, they either don’t care, have their own issues to worry about, or they’re glad I have my problems. So I just don’t say anything.
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St Therese said something very similar to this that she gave up complaining because no-one cared when she complained anyway. I too have noticed this. I once had a conversation with my best friend and told her about something that was upsetting me, she didn’t even seem to notice what I was saying and my best friend is a very caring person, I love her very much, she’s lovely and I thought to myself, I am clearly not meant to be complaining.🙂

Anyway I know you didn’t ask but you have my prayers.

In the Living Prayer of my life
 
blessedstar said:
I was listening to a sermon on EWTN by a Priest , sorry I don’t know his name and I was only half listening because my daughter was talking to me, but I started to listen properly when this Priest started talking about perseverance. I am a great believer in persevering, so he peeked my interest. Anyway I am also a great believer in not complaining about my cross and I only talk about my cross(crosses) to a select few, one of them being Jesus. Well, to get to the point, this Priest said that anyone who goes about and seems to be sailing along with no problems and everything in their life and spiritual life is absolutely wonderful all of the time, then that is insanity, that person is insane.

Well I had to ask myself, am I insane?🙂

If I get the cross I accept it, if I get it I try not to complain though inside, I of course suffer, but outwardly to almost everyone on the planet I would look like that insane person the Priest was talking about because no-one knows (except for Jesus and three people, one, my mother, one a Priest and one a Religious Sister) just what goes on in the interior of me. If anyone asks about my welfare and how life is treating me I always just say ‘Yes, I can’t complain.’ because I don’t want to lie and they seem happy enough with that reply.

What does this Priest mean? Did anyone else hear this sermon? Can anyone help to explain it? Have I been doing the wrong thing by not complaining?

In the Living Prayer of my life
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What an interesting thread! He could have meant, in thinking it through, that being spiritual doesn’t mean we will be free from problems and obstacles in life…and to feel like you will never have hardship because we have a relationship with Christ, would be ‘insane,’ using his word. I think I get it, but I am a recovering whiner.😃 I tend to agree with your view of bearing crosses, but there was a time I didn’t always think that way. Good to finally be growing in my faith!:o
 
The sermon is on again now on EWTN, I am going to watch it again and try and understand

In the Living Prayer of my life
 
blessedstar said:
I was listening to a sermon on EWTN by a Priest , sorry I don’t know his name and I was only half listening because my daughter was talking to me, but I started to listen properly when this Priest started talking about perseverance. I am a great believer in persevering, so he peeked my interest. Anyway I am also a great believer in not complaining about my cross and I only talk about my cross(crosses) to a select few, one of them being Jesus. Well, to get to the point, this Priest said that anyone who goes about and seems to be sailing along with no problems and everything in their life and spiritual life is absolutely wonderful all of the time, then that is insanity, that person is insane.

Well I had to ask myself, am I insane?🙂

If I get the cross I accept it, if I get it I try not to complain though inside, I of course suffer, but outwardly to almost everyone on the planet I would look like that insane person the Priest was talking about because no-one knows (except for Jesus and three people, one, my mother, one a Priest and one a Religious Sister) just what goes on in the interior of me. If anyone asks about my welfare and how life is treating me I always just say ‘Yes, I can’t complain.’ because I don’t want to lie and they seem happy enough with that reply.

What does this Priest mean? Did anyone else hear this sermon? Can anyone help to explain it? Have I been doing the wrong thing by not complaining?

In the Living Prayer of my life
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Well! no disrespect to the priest, however, I would take it into yourself and as you said it is a matter between you, Jesus who knows anyway and the heavenly family who already know. I tend at times (not often) to tell my wife if I am not able to eat food for a reason. But Jesus tells us not to let the right hand know what the left hand is doing. Also that the blessiing is in heaven for those who give it all up to God.
I believe that You are on the right track going by my bible.

Godbless
Godlovestrength.
 
blessedstar said:
What does this Priest mean? Did anyone else hear this sermon? Can anyone help to explain it? Have I been doing the wrong thing by not complaining?

In the Living Prayer of my life
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Not at all. St. John of the Cross, in two, or maybe three, sayings, in, “the Sayings of Light and Love” is very harsh about complaining.

For everyone’s benefit, here are his words:
  1. Do not complain about anyone, or ask for anything; and if it is necessary for you to ask, let it be with few words.
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  1. Anyone who complains or grumbles is not perfect, nor even a good Christian.
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Quite clearly, blessedstar, you have been following the great spiritual advice of St. John of the Cross. You’ve been doing exactly the right thing. God bless.

-Rob
 
“We make up in our own bodies what was lacking in the Sufferings of Christ”(St. Paul)…the great honor and priviledge of the cross…
 
Thank you all.🙂

Seeing as I can’t understand the sermon I probably don’t know where the Priest was going with his comments and so I’ll stick with what I know as I’ve been directed by my Spiritual Director.

In the Living Prayer of my life
 
You know, I saw this thread and had to laugh out loud.

Many of you know that my little boy, Gabriel, drowned last year. We don’t “complain” about it to anyone, but we will sometimes discuss it with people as a witness to faith. In January, we were invited to a party at a friends house. Many of those present were strong Christians of various faiths. There were, however, some agnostic/athiests there. We were all talking about children and they asked how many I have. I said I have five like I always do. They saw only four and asked about the fifth. I matter-of-factly told them that he drowned and preceded us to heaven. To everyone around us, you’d never know we are bereaved parents. We are not sad, depressed, etc. This couple asked the hosts later if I was “crazy”. He told them that I know something they don’t know. He was concerned that I would be offended when he told me about it. On the contrary. I love to hear that people are impacted by our treatment of Gabriel’s death. God willing, that will be a seed for future conversion.

Christians have hope.

Is it possible that the speaker was saying people will “think” you are insane?
 
blessedstar said:
I was listening to a sermon on EWTN by a Priest , sorry I don’t know his name and I was only half listening because my daughter was talking to me, but I started to listen properly when this Priest started talking about perseverance. I am a great believer in persevering, so he peeked my interest. Anyway I am also a great believer in not complaining about my cross and I only talk about my cross(crosses) to a select few, one of them being Jesus. Well, to get to the point, this Priest said that anyone who goes about and seems to be sailing along with no problems and everything in their life and spiritual life is absolutely wonderful all of the time, then that is insanity, that person is insane.

Well I had to ask myself, am I insane?🙂

If I get the cross I accept it, if I get it I try not to complain though inside, I of course suffer, but outwardly to almost everyone on the planet I would look like that insane person the Priest was talking about because no-one knows (except for Jesus and three people, one, my mother, one a Priest and one a Religious Sister) just what goes on in the interior of me. If anyone asks about my welfare and how life is treating me I always just say ‘Yes, I can’t complain.’ because I don’t want to lie and they seem happy enough with that reply.

What does this Priest mean? Did anyone else hear this sermon? Can anyone help to explain it? Have I been doing the wrong thing by not complaining?

In the Living Prayer of my life
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I’m not sure what your priest was talking about because I never heard his homily, but I am going to give you an example of not complaining about your crosses.
When my father was dying from cancer (last stages). The doctor had taken me aside on a few occassions and asked me if he knew he was going to die anytime now. You see, he was always smiling and having conversations with the nurses and doctor although you could see how frail he was. My dad was very much aware of the fact he was dying and he was not in denial. But he was at peace with himself because of the life he had lived and the faith he had. He had struggled throughout his life to support his family but I never ever saw him complain about it although on occassion I did see him try to hide some tears. That’s not insanity. I guess what your priest might be telling you is that it is ok to acknowledge the pain of a cross.
 
Jesus Christ is the model for how we are to bear our crosses, and he never complained because he knew it was God’s will for the good of mankind. We must also see God’s will in our suffering. He only wills our ultimate good, our sanctification and salvation. Therefore we must understand that all he allows us to suffer is for that end. When we realize that, we will never complain of suffering.

Yes, doing so does seem crazy to the world (maybe that’s what the priest meant): “We are fools for Christ’s sake” says the Apostle.

Anyway, here are what some saints say about this:

St. Paul of the Cross:
“It is very good and holy to consider the passion of our Lord, and to meditate on it, for by this sacred path we reach union with God. In this most holy school we learn true wisdom, for it was there that all the saints learned it. Therefore, be constant in practicing every virtue, and especially in imitating the patience of our dear Jesus, for this is the summit of pure love. Live in such a way that all may know that you bear outwardly as well as inwardly the image of Christ crucified, the model of all gentleness and mercy. For if a man is united inwardly with the Son of the living God, he also bears his likeness outwardly by his continual practice of heroic goodness, and especially through a patience reinforced by courage, which does not complain either secretly or in public. Conceal yourselves in Jesus crucified, and hope for nothing except that all men be thoroughly converted to his will.”
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St. Alphonsus Liguori:
"O the supreme folly of those who resist the divine will! In God’s providence, no one can escape hardship: “Who resisteth his will?” A person who rails at God in adversity, suffers without merit; moreover by his lack of resignation he adds to his punishment in the next life and experiences greater disquietude of mind in this life: “Who resisteth him and hath had peace?” The screaming rage of the sick man in his pain, the whining complaints of the poor man in his destitution - what will they avail these people, except increase their unhappiness and bring them no relief? “Little man,” says Saint Augustine, "grow up. What are you seeking in your search for happiness? Seek the one good that embraces all others.’’ Whom do you seek, friend, if you seek not God? Seek him, find him, cleave to him; bind your will to his with bands of steel and you will live always at peace in this life and in the next.
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"God wills only our good; God loves us more than anybody else can or does love us. His will is that no one should lose his soul, that everyone should save and sanctify his soul: “Not willing that any should perish, but that all should return to penance.” “This is the will of God, your sanctification.” God has made the attainment of our happiness, his glory. Since he is by his nature infinite goodness, and since as Saint Leo says goodness is diffusive of itself, God has a supreme desire to make us sharers of his goods and of his happiness. If then he sends us suffering in this life, it is for our own good: “All things work together unto good.” Even chastisements come to us, not to crush us, but to make us mend our ways and save our souls: “Let us believe that these scourges of the Lord have happened for our amendment and not for our destruction.”
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