Suffering servant?

[Monica12345]

Correct me if I’m wrong but in Isiah, a ‘suffering servant’ is mentioned and this is often thought to be Jesus? It is also often said that when we suffer, we are sharing in the suffering of Jesus so does that mean we are also paying the price for the sins of humanity? If so, does this mean that if I have gravely sinned I am indirectly responsible for the suffering of others? My mom is very sick at the moment, with weeks left and I was very sinful last year. I can’t even write some of the things I did. I have confessed these sins but I can’t get rid of the guilt when I look at her suffering. I sometimes wonder if this would be happening if I hadn’t committed these sins.

 

[Anesti33]

Correct me if I’m wrong but in Isiah, a ‘suffering servant’ is mentioned and this is often thought to be Jesus? It is also often said that when we suffer, we are sharing in the suffering of Jesus so does that mean we are also paying the price for the sins of humanity? If so, does this mean that if I have gravely sinned I am indirectly responsible for the suffering of others? My mom is very sick at the moment, with weeks left and I was very sinful last year. I can’t even write some of the things I did. I have confessed these sins but I can’t get rid of the guilt when I look at her suffering. I sometimes wonder if this would be happening if I hadn’t committed these sins.

No. Human suffering is redemptive. When you or I suffer pain or anguish, we offer it up prayerfully for our sanctification and for the sanctification of others. It is a form of penance that wipes away sin.

When you sin gravely, you add to the Lord’s Passion, because He took all our sins upon Himself. But it would not be accurate to say that you are therefore contributing to the suffering of your fellow man. Christ is our Mediator, Christ accepted that Cross once and for all.

 

[Monica12345]

Ah ok that clears it up thank you!

 

[Vico]

Correct me if I’m wrong but in Isiah, a ‘suffering servant’ is mentioned and this is often thought to be Jesus? It is also often said that when we suffer, we are sharing in the suffering of Jesus so does that mean we are also paying the price for the sins of humanity? If so, does this mean that if I have gravely sinned I am indirectly responsible for the suffering of others? My mom is very sick at the moment, with weeks left and I was very sinful last year. I can’t even write some of the things I did. I have confessed these sins but I can’t get rid of the guilt when I look at her suffering. I sometimes wonder if this would be happening if I hadn’t committed these sins.

Catechism

1459 Many sins wrong our neighbor. One must do what is possible in order to repair the harm (e.g., return stolen goods, restore the reputation of someone slandered, pay compensation for injuries). Simple justice requires as much. But sin also injures and weakens the sinner himself, as well as his relationships with God and neighbor. Absolution takes away sin, but it does not remedy all the disorders sin has caused.62 Raised up from sin, the sinner must still recover his full spiritual health by doing something more to make amends for the sin: he must “make satisfaction for” or “expiate” his sins. This satisfaction is also called “penance.”

601 The Scriptures had foretold this divine plan of salvation through the putting to death of “the righteous one, my Servant” as a mystery of universal redemption, that is, as the ransom that would free men from the slavery of sin.397 Citing a confession of faith that he himself had “received”, St. Paul professes that "Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures."398 In particular Jesus’ redemptive death fulfills Isaiah’s prophecy of the suffering Servant.399 Indeed Jesus himself explained the meaning of his life and death in the light of God’s suffering Servant.400 After his Resurrection he gave this interpretation of the Scriptures to the disciples at Emmaus, and then to the apostles.401

397 Isa 53:11; cf. 53:12; Jn 8:34-36; Acts 3:14.
398 1 Cor 15:3; cf. also Acts 3:18; 7:52; 13:29; 26:22-23.
399 Cf. Isa 53:7-8 and Acts 8:32-35.
400 Cf. Mt 20:28.
401 Cf. Lk 24:25-27, 44-45.

 

[Monica12345]

Thank you!

 

[Tis_Bearself]

If so, does this mean that if I have gravely sinned I am indirectly responsible for the suffering of others?

Not in the way you’re thinking. Your sin is not causing your mom to be ill and to suffer.

Your sin, however, may cause harm upon in the world in some other manner. For example, if you sinned by engaging in a sinful sexual act with another person, then you not only sinned yourself but enabled the other person’s sin as well, and added to the culture of sexual sin in the world, and as a practical matter you may have also caused some emotional or even physical harm to yourself or the other person. Your penance is meant to make reparation, to try to fix this damage.

But it’s not like God says, “Monica sinned so I am going to make her mom sicker as a punishment” - your sin and what’s going on with your mom are NOT related. I think we’ve been over this before on another thread, and you should consider talking to a priest or a Catholic counselor about your situation and your feelings of guilt, if you haven’t done so already. It is not theologically correct and also not healthy for you to keep blaming yourself and your sins for your mother’s suffering.

 

[Monica12345]

Thank you for this reassurance. I think it is a very traumatic time at the moment and I will indeed talk to a priest. I have confessed my sins so really I think I just need to believe they have been forgiven and also forgive myself. I think it is just hard to believe God would allow all this suffering for no reason. My mom is very young and very faithful to be going through this terrible situation. I hate watching my family grieve and seeing her so helpless. I wish I could do something but all I can do is pray for strength.

 

[Tis_Bearself]

My friend is dying of cancer too. It’s awful. And so much worse for you when it is your beloved mom.

However, God never does anything without a reason, and as someone already said, earthly suffering can be redemptive. It is not just done for purposes of punishing us. We don’t fully understand yet all God’s reasons why he does what he does, but one day it will make more sense. I know it is very awful and hard for you now though. Hang in there and keep the faith.

 

[Monica12345]

I am very sorry to hear about your friend. Yes it is worse than any suffering I have imagined but I am trying to stay faithful mostly because that is what my mom has taught me and believed her whole life no matter what she has faced. That cannot be for nothing. Thank you so much.