05/15/2023
By Pastor Vinnie Cappetta
"Suffering and the Kiss of Jesus: Embracing the Gift of God"
In my last sermon, I said that I would not go back and change any of my sufferings even if I could. But I don’t want you to get the wrong idea… I don’t like suffering and I don’t want to suffer any more than I have to and that’s why this story of Mother Theresa jumped off the page at me. Before I share that story, let me set it up for us.
We will all encounter suffering, pain, humiliation, sickness, and failure. These moments can leave us feeling abandoned and disillusioned. However, Mother Teresa offers us an interesting perspective on suffering. She suggests that these trials are not punishments but kisses from Jesus, drawing us closer to Him.
Embracing the Kiss of Jesus
In suffering, we find ourselves standing at the foot of the cross, intimately united with Jesus in His agony. Just as He willingly embraced the weight of the world's suffering, He tenderly kisses us in our afflictions, inviting us to participate in His redemptive love. Although it may seem paradoxical, suffering becomes a profound gift—a sacred opportunity for spiritual growth, compassion, and union with our Lord.
Understanding Suffering
When we perceive suffering as a divine kiss, our perspective shifts. We realize that it is not a random or cruel act but rather a means by which we are invited to share in Christ's passion. Suffering transforms us, molding our hearts to resemble His. In our pain and brokenness, we become vessels through which His love flows to touch the lives of others. We are drawn closer to the heart of Jesus, where we find solace, strength, and a deeper understanding of His sacrifice.
The Call to Unite with Christ
When suffering enters our lives, we have a choice—to resist or embrace it. Resisting breeds bitterness and despair, but embracing suffering allows us to enter the transformative dance of love with our Savior. As we unite our sufferings with His, we participate in His mission of redemption. We carry our crosses with courage, knowing that Jesus walks beside us, His lips pressed gently against our wounded souls.
A Testimony of Love
Mother Teresa shared a profound encounter with a woman afflicted by cancer. Through her suffering, she felt the kiss of Jesus upon her. Instead of resenting her pain, she joined hands with Mother Teresa, pleading for the kisses to cease. In this poignant moment, we witness the depth of her faith and her willingness to accept suffering as a gift even though she wanted the suffering to end. She recognized that her pain united her intimately with the crucified Christ and ultimately transformed her into a living testament of love.
A Path to Christlikeness
The path of suffering, though arduous, holds the promise of making us more Christlike. It purifies our intentions, strengthens our empathy, and deepens our reliance on God's grace. When we embrace suffering, we are stripped of our self-centeredness and ego, allowing the radiance of Christ's love to shine through us. Our suffering becomes a beacon of hope for others, drawing them closer to the heart of Jesus.
In the crucible of suffering, we discover the transformative power of the kiss of Jesus. Mother Teresa's insight challenges us to reframe our understanding of pain, humiliation, sickness, and failure. Let us not see them as punishments but as invitations to share in the redemptive work of our Lord. As we unite our sufferings with His, we become vessels of love, radiating His compassion and grace to a hurting world. May we embrace the kiss of Jesus and allow it to mold us into instruments of His mercy and healing.
Romans 8:18: "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us."
Pastor Vinnie (with help from his research assistant ChatGPT)
