David

I had to cringe a bit yesterday at a non-denominational Christian gathering when one of my good Protestant friends made the comment that Christ suffered and died once and for all so that we don’t have to - a popular ideological discrepancy among Protestants - not to stereotype.

Again, there is much important truth in this statement, as you clearly pointed out. However, the suffering and death of Christ on the Cross is not a “get out of jail free” card.

The way that helps me out best is to think of Christ as the “trail-breaker” and the “trail” itself. (I love how in the song “Lift Your Name on High”, the chorus’ hand motions depict quite clearly the trail Christ broke) Without Christ’s suffering, death and resurrection, we’d be stuck. We’d be floundering in limbo for eternity. That is the “trail-breaking” aspect.

But we also know that Christ is “The Way”, the Truth, and the Life. Christ IS the “Path” to Eternal Life. This concept of Christ both breaking trail and being the trail itself is difficult for us rational humans. That’s why we call it the Pascal Mystery (hope I spelt that right).

But it is for this reason that Catholics at least should be encouraged to go to daily Mass and reconciliation often - for that constant death and resurrection through Christ. Each day should be a conversion experience - a “turning” of ourselves back to Christ - the Way - through the Pascal Mystery.

Christ did not simply suffer and die one time for all time. But He also suffered and died one time for EVERY time. It is the reason why Catholics don’t take Christ off the Cross.

It is also the reason why I believe Christ still had the holes in His hands and His side after He gained His radiant new body after the Resurrection. I don’t think it was simply to erase the doubt of Thomas. I believe it was to show that although He would be ascending into Heaven, He would still be pouring his Life out for us constantly and walking the path WITH us. So the more we unite ourselves to Christ, the better we are able to walk that path and eventually, gain our Eternal redemption.

Unite ourselves to Christ is a package deal. We know by our fallen nature suffering is inevitable. But through Christ, suffering has real power - transforming power. Do not empty the Cross of its power - make good use of our sufferings by uniting them to Christ.

I’m done (thankfully for your sake)
Love the mystery - you’d be surprised that I’m using the dualistic nature of quantum mechanics to help understand the Great Mysteries of God.

And scientist say we’re not open-minded.