"So Make Me Poor if that's the Price for Freedom"!

     One thing that I find absolutely beautiful about being Catholic is the concept of suffering, especially redemptive suffering.  There is something that I find comforting about suffering for the sake of souls, those that I know and those that I don't.  Tenth Avenue North just released their new cd entitled, "The Struggle".  One song has certainly struck a cord within my heart.  It's called, "Don't Stop the Madness".  Here is the second verse, chorus and some of the bridge:

"But all I hear is what they're selling me - That God is love He isn't suffering - And what you need's a little faith in prosperity - But oh, my God, I know there's more than this - If you promise pain, it can't be meaningless - So make me poor if that's the price for freedom - chorus - Don't stop the madness - Don't stop the chaos - Don't stop the pain surrounding me - Don't be afraid, Lord, to break my heart - And bring me down to my knees - Bridge - ...When we're breaking down - We're falling apart - Don't stop with Your love - And with new eyes to see - This is Your mercy - Don't stop with Your love."                                                                               -"Don't Stop the Madness" by Tenth Avenue North

     What if we were grateful for the sufferings and struggles that we encounter?  What if we took the time to thank God for these sufferings and how our trials bring us ever closer to His most Sacred Heart?  And what if we offered them up for others?  Sometimes I think we focus so much on the "pain" but not enough on the graces that we obtain through them.  Olympians don't go to the Olympics without going through pain but I would almost guarantee you that every single one of them would tell you that the pain was worth it.  The same is with Heaven and intimacy with Christ.  Yes, Christ did say that we would all suffer (John 15:20) for His sake.  Was it easy for Christ? No, His body shook, His Sacred Heart broke, but the more He suffered, the "poorer" He became, the more He loved.  All for the sake of souls.  All for the sake of you and I.  If I have to suffer, become "poor" just to love more and become more like Christ, then I'm all in, heart and soul! My heart will sing: "So make me poor if that's the price for freedom"! 

     Let us thank God for the ways that He draws us ever closer to His Most Sacred Heart; for the ways that our suffering can be used for intercession for souls and how we're all connected through "Christ, and Him crucified" (1 Corinthians 2:2).

Written by Alycia