What does Acts 14:22 mean exactly?

[Huiou_Theou]

Basically I want to believe my suffering is for a purpose and that the passage while it is a certain context as well is also applicable to my situation.

I think I see.

Just the idea of suffering and hardships as being brought to us by God for the sake of the Kingdom.

Then, in your case, the suffering is already present as it is in the passage.
St. Paul is making a clear statement that an obstacle, suffering, is necessary for the kingdom to become present.

One may enter the kingdom in several ways, but the kingdom itself requires a change in the world which inevitably causes suffering. There are at least two ways to view this necessity of suffering.

Consider for a moment, about the children (infants) being brought to Jesus. The infants (eg: the sheep or the flock) aren’t the ones most responsible for the events happening, and they suffer the least. But now notice, it is the Apostles – the very leaders of the up-coming church, who don’t wish to suffer the noise and tedium of children… and it is precisely here, where the authority rests, that authority is what causes Jesus to make a demand about suffering – he demands his shepherds suffer for the sake of the infants.

This is suffering necessary for the sake of bringing and sharing the kingdom in the world; The second kind of necessary suffering, is a consequence of the whole kingdom being a target of the devil who is at war, eg: a bearing of damage.

All suffering, applied correctly, is part of the building up of the kingdom.

I think, When you look for meaning to your own suffering, and use the word “hope”, the connection is about what you wish to do with suffering.

Suffering is something of value --( for reasons that are perhaps a little obscure ). and Suffering may be offered, then, to God – and that offering (the sufferings being incidental) is very precious in his sight.

The cross itself, I would add – is suffering for the sake of righteousness and justice.

**CCC 1435 *Conversion is accomplished in daily life by gestures of reconciliation, concern for the poor, the exercise and defense of justice and right, by the admission of faults to one’s brethren, fraternal correction, revision of life, examination of conscience, spiritual direction, acceptance of suffering, endurance of persecution for the sake of righteousness. * Taking up one’s cross each day and following Jesus is the surest way of penance.

CCC 1505: … By his passion and death on the cross Christ has given a new meaning to suffering: it can henceforth configure us to him and unite us with his redemptive Passion.
**
CCC 806 **In the unity of this Body, there is a diversity of members and functions. All members are linked to one another, especially to those who are suffering, to the poor and persecuted.

**CCC 793 **Christ unites us with his Passover: all his members must strive to resemble him, “until Christ be formed” in them. “For this reason we . . . are taken up into the mysteries of his life, . . . associated with his sufferings as the body with its head, suffering with him, that with him we may be glorified.”

**CCC 2648 **Every joy and suffering, every event and need can become the matter for thanksgiving EUCHARIST ] which, sharing in that of Christ, should fill one’s whole life: “Give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thess 5:18).

And so it is, Catholics don’t neglect to meet with one another, to break our daily bread together, and to pray for each other and suffer on each other’s behalf.

Your brother in Chirst, Jesus
–Andrew.