On Suffering
Suffering is a blessing when it is in accordance with God's will and can lead to growth, development, and the acquisition of virtues.
Meister Eckhart preaches on the profound nature of suffering, emphasizing that those who love God do not complain about their sufferings but rather find blessedness in suffering according to God's will. He highlights that true blessedness lies in being willing to suffer for righteousness, not just having suffered. Eckhart explains that God makes the burdens borne for His sake light and sweet, transforming suffering into love and comfort. He suggests that if there was anything more noble than suffering, God would have used it for the redemption of mankind.
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Men who love God are so far from complaining of their sufferings, that their complaint and their suffering is rather because the suffering which God's will has assigned them is so small. All their blessedness is to suffer by God's will, and not to have suffered something, for this is the loss of suffering. This is why I said, Blessed are they who are willing to suffer for righteousness, not, Blessed are they who have suffered.
All that a man bears for God's sake, God makes light and sweet for him...
If all was right with you, your sufferings would no longer be suffering, but love and comfort.
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If God could have given to men anything more noble than suffering, He would have redeemed mankind with it: otherwise, you must say that my Father was my enemy, if he knew of anything nobler than suffering.
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True suffering is a mother of all the virtues.
Sermon Outline
- The Nature of Suffering
- God's Perspective on Suffering
- The Value of Suffering
- True suffering is a mother of all virtues
- Suffering is a noble means of growth and development
Key Quotes
“Men who love God are so far from complaining of their sufferings, that their complaint and their suffering is rather because the suffering which God's will has assigned them is so small.” — Meister Eckhart
“If all was right with you, your sufferings would no longer be suffering, but love and comfort.” — Meister Eckhart
“True suffering is a mother of all the virtues.” — Meister Eckhart
Application Points
- Recognize that suffering can be a blessing when it is in accordance with God's will.
- Seek to grow and develop through your sufferings, rather than resisting them.
- Cultivate a spirit of gratitude and love, even in the midst of suffering.