Episode 2704: Sharing in the Life of Christ - Nightly Episode

“O my God, at the end of this day I thank You most heartily for all the graces I have received from You. I am sorry that I have not made better use of them. I am sorry for all the sins I have committed against You. Forgive me, O my God, and graciously protect me this night. Blessed Virgin Mary, my dear heavenly mother, take me under your protection. St. Joseph, my dear Guardian Angel, and all you saints of God, pray for me. Sweet Jesus, have pity on all poor sinners, and save them from hell. Have mercy on the suffering souls in purgatory. Amen.”
Sharing in the Life of Christ Through Suffering and Grace
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Tonight, we’ll delve into the profound mystery of how bodily and spiritual affliction draws us closer to God, reflecting His love and transforming us into "little Christs." We’ll reflect on the insights of St. Gertrude the Great and the renowned Christian thinker C.S. Lewis to deepen our understanding of this transformative journey.

The Mystery of Suffering and Divine Love
St. Gertrude the Great, a mystic known for her deep union with Christ, offers this profound statement:
“Bodily and spiritual affliction are the surest sign of Divine predilection.”
At first glance, this teaching can be difficult to grasp. How can suffering, whether physical or spiritual, be a sign of God’s favor? The traditional Catholic understanding sees suffering as a participation in Christ’s redemptive passion. When we endure trials with patience and trust in God, we unite our crosses to His, allowing His grace to transform our hearts.
This is not to say that suffering is desirable in itself, but that God permits it as a means of drawing us closer to Him. Like gold refined in the fire, our souls are purified through affliction, and we become more capable of sharing in His divine life.
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2. Sharing in the Life of Christ
C.S. Lewis, in his clear and compelling way, explains the purpose of Christianity:
"Now the whole offer which Christianity makes is this: that we can, if we let God have His way, come to share in the life of Christ. If we do, we shall then be sharing a life which was begotten, not made, which always has existed and always will exist. Christ is the Son of God. If we share in this kind of life we also shall be sons of God. We shall love the Father as He does and the Holy Ghost will arise in us. He came to this world and became a man in order to spread to other men the kind of life He has -- by what I call 'good infection'. Every Christian is to become a little Christ. The whole purpose of becoming a Christian is simply nothing else" —C.S. Lewis,
This “sharing in the life of Christ” is central to our Catholic faith. Through the sacraments, particularly Baptism and the Holy Eucharist, we are united to Christ’s life, death, and resurrection. Yet this divine life is not a passive gift it is a living reality that calls us to action. As Lewis beautifully puts it, every Christian is called to become a “little Christ.”
The process of becoming like Christ often involves the refining fire of suffering. It is through trials that we learn to trust God more fully, to surrender our wills to His, and to love as He loves. This transformation is not merely about imitating Christ externally but about allowing His Spirit to dwell in us, shaping our very being.
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3. The Role of Grace and the Call to Holiness
The "good infection" Lewis speaks of is nothing less than grace the life of God within us. This grace sustains us in our struggles, consoles us in our sorrows, and empowers us to live as true children of God. It is through grace that our sufferings take on redemptive value, becoming a means of sanctification not only for ourselves but for others.
St. Gertrude’s understanding of affliction and Lewis’s vision of divine life converge in the call to holiness. Suffering, when embraced with faith and love, becomes a privileged opportunity to grow in virtue and to radiate Christ’s love to the world.
In Hebrews 12:10, we are reminded of God’s purpose in allowing trials:
“For [God] disciplines us for our good, that we may share His holiness.”
As Catholics, we are invited to see our afflictions not as punishments but as gifts—a tangible sign of God’s predilection and His desire to draw us into deeper union with Him.
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Conclusion Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
We thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ, who through His suffering and death redeemed us and made us Your children. Help us to see the trials and afflictions of our lives as opportunities to share in His divine life and to grow in holiness.
Grant us the grace to endure our sufferings with patience, trust, and love, uniting them to the cross of Christ. May we be transformed by Your Spirit into “little Christs,” reflecting Your love to the world and bringing hope to those who suffer.
Through the intercession of St. Gertrude the Great, may we learn to embrace the mystery of suffering as a sign of Your predilection and a path to eternal glory. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
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Thank you for joining us tonight. As we reflect on God’s love and His call to share in His divine life, may we embrace the trials of this life with courage and faith. Until next time, may God bless you and keep you close to His heart.