When I was twenty-five, I had a major brain hemorrhage. The doctor told me that I would be dead within two hours. I was paralyzed and unable to speak at this time. But, I heard a voice at that time that told me I would not die. I did live and when I was thirty-two, I became a Christian. I am now fifty-six; a college graduate; have been happily married for the past fifteen years; and joined the Catholic Church in 2018. I am so grateful that I now follow the Lord. Through His death on the cross, I was healed.
I am a 6"2' 230lb self proclaimed tough guy. This video made me well with tears. The years have difficult; my heart has been hardened and my faith shaken tremendously . Please, I ask for prayers for myself and those who have shared similar, sorrowful stories in the comments. Thank you Ascension Presents and Fr. Alar, this video will be bookmarked and watched daily. God bless.
Pray without ceasing. We may not often understand the process of our sufferings but there is meaning within it. Hang on to God, he will deliver. He is faithful 💗
I want to say that I suffer a great deal. I am bedridden, always in pain and nauseous. My dad has always told me that there is a reason for my suffering. This is the best written, well acted video I have seen on the reason why God allows suffering. 🙏💜
No suffering means surrounding ourselves with things we like, that please us, achieved without effort. This raises our "quality of life", which after short time will bore us, and we want more, and more, and more. With suffering there's growth, with suffering there's understanding of something superior to us, there's discovery of humility, of little things. Ask yourselves why rich people always complain of every little and useless thing: it's because there's almost no suffering in their lives, and its more likely they never discovered it. And the ones who did, grew up humble and generous.
@@christopher3386 Hey...Suffering can't be justified with one single answer. It depends on the situation. And also death of a person can keep you humble. My Dad lost his father, he was totally devastated but during my grandfather's post-death period, my dad came closer to God and he has changed a lot
@@christopher3386 As it was said in the video, a much greater good can be brought about thanks to even the worst pain. I really wish you grew in the knowledge of God and be saved, who knows, maybe some of my own suffering will be offerred specifically for you... But even from a secular perspective - if something bad has already happened and we cannot change that, why not get something positive from it? Maybe extra motivation to rescue other people who can be helped
Lord Jesus took away a lot of my suffering, I still suffer because of gossip and spies and stuff, but all my happiness is because of the mercy of Jesus, thanks to Saint Faustina
This last summer has been especially hard for my family, my uncle was murdered, and my parents are separating. This is exactly what I needed to hear. This to shall pass.
This is a powerful message for everyone who is suffering at this very minute. I surrender all to my Lord and Savior, who died for us and our sins! God have mercy on us and on the whole world. I'm praying for the grace to carry my cross. Thank you, Father Chris, for your prayers and ministry. May God continue to bless you, your parish and the entire world. Amen, amen!
@SørenCast Z We are to respect nature since its a creation of God, animal cruelty is horrible even in a Christian sense, however such as cruelty to other people God cannot intervene.
This pandemia... my husband up till now would say "I really don't need to pray so much, I don't need that Catholic Couples Society" (I've tried to join with him, no luck). For the past few weeks we've been praying Rosary with those families every night, and today at 3pm my husband came to me and asked to pray Divine Mercy Chaplet. If there wasn't for this great suffering, my husbands would not changed so dramatically.
In 2014, I lost my mother, in 2015, I lost my young intelligent brother and 7 months later, I lost my beloved father and it was hard. I have survived by God's grace and he has been faithful. I am yet to seen the good in all the suffering but I love God and I am devoted to being the best christian I can be. My father was a fervent Marian Devotee and hummed through pain until the end. Glory be God for their lives. Lord, help me to hold onto you, so that I can see them all one day in heaven.
I lost my mom, my uncle, my brother in law and my cat in 2014. Tough year. I made it though and God showed me how strong I could be. See I always I had a fear of death not my own but losing my mom but I not only cared for her to the end (she died at home) and I nursed her, it made me realize that I could be strong when I needed to be.
I want to thank you 🙏 for being a great catholic leader. You speak the truth and are very wise. I have suffered with the death of my Son. I still have faith in Jesus and Mother Mary. Amen
It's actually not that difficult for me to understand. A couple years ago, while I was warring with God about my constant singleness, I read an anonymous user's perspective on the matter that is almost never shared in common religious circles: God could actually be mourning your singleness status with you, because He truly longs for you to fulfill His plans of marriage and family; but those dreams are, at least for now, rendered impossible because of so many people rejecting God (out of free will, which He would never dare rob us of) and therefore creating less of a selection for an appropriate, faithful partner. This perspective saved my relationship with Him for good. The idea that God mourns and is unwilling of all of our worldly tragedies, even if He already overcame them and can bring out a greater good, has proved His love for me more than anything else. Regardless of His plans or our plans, He cares about your feelings and never rejoices in your pain. In fact, He is often in pain with you. That is the sign of a true friend who is for us rather than against us. That is love.
I’m of the thought when you pray on this and leave it with the Lord( while following him) you will find love. Let the Lord find you a date - you stop pushing so hard. Prayers.💖🦩
@@Roman-Labrador The worldly life has only one purpose which is for you to learn about God & get close to him spiritually. Nothing else really matters in the end. I've been suffering daily for many years, my life is completely broken too, but I've gained a lot spiritually & God has given me the grace to endure the suffering.
may be God is trusting you. You did well with 50 lbs, God thinks you can deal with another 50 lbs. God already knew whats gonna happen but you don't, God wants you to Know you can do l00lbs, with him.
Fr. Chris I thank you and God for your ordination as a priest. You continue to touch my life in very special ways with your explanation of God's love. Thanks again. (Gerard)
Dear Father, You look to be about 25 years younger than I am, an Army veteran and a policeman of 23 years and counting.... And already you have more wisdom with regard to our Blessed Lord than I may ever have. I shall pray the Glorious Mysteries of our Most Holy Rosary for you and priests like you. Much Love and God Bless You.
@@huskyfaninmass1042 It's not presumptuous. Mother Theresa didn't set out to change the world or overthrow corrupt systems; she loved the one person in front of her. There are 2 billion Christians. If each of us pulled our own weight, loved our neighbors, turned the other cheek and forgive those around us we'd have heaven on Earth. Imagine what 2,000,000 Mother Theresas would do.
God allows suffering to bring us closer to him…when do most people pray…when they’re suffering….dealing with something beyond their control…we can do nothing without God’s help and abundant blessings we can do everything with God’s grace…amen
i watch all videos of Fr. Chris Alar "Explaining the Faith" series. He played a huge part on me loving the Catholic faith more and deeper. thank you Father Chris!
Thank you I needed to hear this. I have been dealing with an incurable disease & by Gods Grace I have been doing well but every now & then I take my eyes off of Jesus like Peter & fall into the water . Your talk pulled me out of the water into the boat to keep going & know there is a purpose
Thank you Father oh what a timely vid I am in this situation somewhat and thank you for strengthening what I am struggling to believe. God bless Father 🥰
I wish all videos on this channel would be subtitled in multiple languages so that this content can reach as many people around the world God bless you
Whenever i am saying this; God always take my sufferings; kept it to HIM. And i said, "God if this is not for me take it away from me; but, if this is for me; i only wanted to do it through Thy Most Sacred Heart and the Immaculate Heart of Mary [because i have no merit; for whatever purpose They like to use it]." Then, i completely submitted. ///// Fr, maybe, also, God would like us to practice, "Active Faith" like the first 12 Apostles; or to silently use HIS NAME and call our LADY, our Mother to rebuke away Satan; and to stop all the works of Satan! We do not have to be shouting to do it. But, we could say it silently with all FAITH. I even greeted the Tornadoes; but maybe it was my imagination; as if the flow of big WIND stop for a 3 seconds in front of me; but, i only wish to say hi and i wish it well. But, this time; i told my Lord; that i only wish for the WILL of God for the conversion of all to our Catholic Faith [just the Faith; not the religion]. The Faith that Lord JESUS IS GOD as written, ISAIAH 48;17 54;5. And Faith that there are Saints and honor them as written, DANIEL 7;18 & 27; Matthew 12;32.; and then, i wish only HIS WILL to end the Coronavirus. HE said in my heart that HE WILL IF they Convert to this Catholic Faith [not sure if it means to the Religion or just the Faith]. I heard one Evangelist who long ago was very opposite of what he was teaching before; his name, Dr Charles Stanley; but, now he is teaching that Lord JESUS IS GOD! It started; but, it will take time for all to say yes to Lord JESUS AS GOD! I wish also for all JEWS to CONVERT to our Catholic Faith; because, no matter how eloquent their reasons were; then, they still need to answer, "Jews, how can you face the face of ISAIAH and MICAH in the next life?" "Because ISAIAH wrote 48;17 & 54;5 clearly that the MESSIAH, YESHUA, JESUS, IS GOD! And MICAH 5;2 wrote that HE will be born in Bethlehem; from old "EVERLASTING" Who will RULE ALL ISRAEL!" AMEN.
He was despised and abandoned by men, A man of [b]great pain and familiar with sickness; And like one from whom people hide their faces, He was despised, and we had no regard for Him. 4However, it was our sicknesses that He Himself bore, And our pains that He carried; Yet we ourselves assumed that He had been afflicted, Struck down by God, and humiliated. 5But He was [c]pierced for our offenses, He was crushed for our wrongdoings; The punishment for our [d]well-being was laid upon Him, And by His wounds we are healed. 6All of us, like sheep, have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the wrongdoing of us all To [e]fall on Him.
Its out of some of the worst things that God turns into something beaitiful. You have to know that life really goes on after this. God is so merciful. Just never give up on trying to do better and show compassion to everybody. That homeless man on the street can be an angel. So love everyone. I dont care what color you are. You are all loved and I hope you have a blessed day and bless others as blessings come to you. Never allow your heart to turn cold or the enemy has you.
Good sentiments on how to treat other people, but as far as God goes, I'd be more likely to worship one who could make the beautiful thing without needing it to be one of the worst things first. He can't give everybody a home and then still make angels out of them? Weak God, I guess.
@@scotte4765 Well, we cannot fully understand everything, we don't always know how much more sanctified people become when they suffer with their trust in God. We don't know the eternal happiness that comes after. If God is perfectly good, that means things couldn't have been settled better for our salvation that they are
@@amask99 Thanks for the reply to a rather old comment. If God is perfectly good but a world filled with sickness, homeless people, and much that is far worse is still the best he can manage for his purposes, then I'd have to say again that he seems rather weak as our vision of gods goes. He seems like, at best, a comic book superhero: doing what he can but unable to actually be everywhere at once or prevent wrongs before they happen, and so on. But even that's overgenerous since Superman shows up and talks to people sometimes. Why worship a being whom you think means well but can only manage a universe to the point of it still looking exactly like a universe with no God at all?
Thank you so much father Chris for this message of hope, same questions always I ask but you've just absolutely answered completely and now I realized that with suffering we are united and sharing God's sacrifices and love. I strongly believe that I will forever keep my fingers crossed in prayers and have faith and trust in God and surely will overcome all tribulations and challenges in life. God bless you my favourite priest.
I don't doubt that God is all powerful, but it it still amazes me when I pray for strength in my sufferings and the Lord grants me strength, or wisdom or patience or which ever I need because I look back at it and I know there is no way I could have gotten through it on my own.
In my life, suffering created strength. The suffering I felt years ago, aren’t such strong anymore. So I take Step for step to reach higher ground... every decision made, I made with a good feeling. So I could find the Way, where , I believe, god is on my side.
I am only 20 years old. I was diagnosed with stage one bone cancer 2 years ago and now the tumour has spread through my body. My doctors had announced there is no treatment for me. All I can do now is wait until I die. I started to lose sight of my left eye because of the brain tumour. Not to mention the unceasing pain. I am too young to die. I don’t want to leave my family and friends. I still don’t understand why I am suffering after watching this video. Nevertheless I still pray to god everyday for a miracle.
Accept this as soon as you can for the sake of your family, but continue praying for your miracle with “but your will be done” at the end. God is calling you home, it seems. Christ suffered, and it wasn’t fair. I suffer horrible pain (complex regional pain syndrome) after being shot several times, and it isn’t fair. You suffer terribly, and it isn’t fair. Today is Good Friday, so study the suffering of Christ. Study “redemptive suffering.” Your suffering has real meaning, and only the catholic faith has figured this out, which is surprising. You can use this for the good of others, even those in purgatory.
I'm truely sorry UR SUFFERING But offer ur SUFFERING to God When UR in a parade you see what's in front of you But if UR in a helicopter you see the bigger picture! I know it's tough I lost my eldest son 9mths ago suddenly But I trust in God God knows how it will all turn out! Every life no matter if it's only a few minutes means something Dont be frightened HEAVEN will be BEAUTIFUL No worries no troubles just love! Maybe I'm not explaining this But i know if you relax & sit with JESUS in the BLESSED SACRAMENT You will understand wer I'm coming from! God bless I'm PRAYING for you right now!!
have u ever heard of chinese treatment go find a very expert chinese medicine doctor they help me myself in things doctors says it's unhealable this is the miracle you want
I often times asked the same question. Why do we humans have to suffer? For example I have a friend of mine who suffers from Crohn's disease and sometimes the suffering and emotional pain was too much for him and he sometimes started crying nonstop and I gave him comfort and hugged him and said, "Gabriel, hang in there. Don't easily give up. I'm here for you. And remember what it says in the book of Psalms, 'If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.'" And today, I have him on my Holy Rosary prayer list and the Divine Mercy prayer list. I honestly don't know how long his Crohn's disease will last but I sincerely hope and pray that there's a miracle for him and hopefully he'll come back to the Catholic Christian faith.
I really appreciate this video. I sent it to my teenage daughter who asks this question often. Thank you Fr. Chris for a great explanation. Loved it. God bless you.
The first humans chose the knowledge of good and evil so they were sent to where they could aquire it. The Lord only honored their choice. A being true to His word ... We are still learning. Interference serves no one. "Pain makes man think, thought makes man wise, wisdom enables man to endure"
In 2007, my husband and I began a 3 year loss. Our mothers and his cousin died in 2007, his brother, uncle and my grandmother died in 2008, and in 2009 his job went away. For 6 years--until 2013--we struggled to pay the bills on our own home and their 2 houses on an unemployment check and finally Social Security. As we we were finishing that part of our lives, my husband was diagnosed to begin kidney dialysis. He had always been a religious man and even told his doctors, "I'm not afraid to die". Sadly in 2017, after nearly 4 years of being on dialysis, he died in his sleep. My 3 years of a "roller coaster" were about to begin. I began to look at life as a single person, doing things I had always wanted and needed to do. My daughter who lived with me did the same as she balanced that with dating a young man she had met before her father died. We were just getting "out of the fog" of our loss, when her young man approached me asking permission to propose to her. On the Feast of the Immaculate Conception (my birthday), he asked the question and she said yes. Our next year, 2019, was the beginning of a busy, happy and challenging year. While I missed sharing this event with my husband, our friends and family celebrated with us. And as you mentioned in your video about the little girl on the lap of Jesus, I think my husband was celebrating with all our family and friends in heaven. Yes, we had suffered, but God does bring us joy. My daughter is now facing back surgery to take away 9 months of back pain, so we thank God for the medical staff who will work to remove her pain.
I am suffering from chemo and radiation side effects. And for my experience it almost seems more depressing when I enter the realms of hope. I literally have to use self confidence and motivation in order to move me out of hope. Hope brings depression during physical suffering. It is truely about enduring the situation with motivation, that things will be okay.
IN SUFFERINGS, WE KNOW GOD BETTER. WE WILL PRAY FOR HEALING, ASK GOD FOR OUR PROGRESS, OTHERWISE, WE ARE GOOD, WE DO NOT EVEN REMEMBER GOD, IN SUFFERING, WE KNOW TO PRAY BETTER.🥰❤🙏
HE's still the God I serve.....He loves unconditionally..... I love HIM too whether am happy or not coz I know HE's always with me in all situations...... and I think HIM for all bad and good time I go through for the entire day......suffering makes my faith stronger coz I only have to rely on Almighty God ....
Are you sure that Christianity is the right religion? If you have faith in your god and other religions have just as much faith in their god/s, why are you right and they wrong?
What a BS response. I need a logical answer. Why did my 4 year old cat suffer horribly before congestive heart failure took him? Why do children suffer from, then die of cancer? The priest never answers the question.
The real question is why does that bother you? Your car and you are biological creatures, under the laws of physics and under the law of decay. If you believe in God, than you know it's not the whole story. If you don't believe in God, than frecking learn to deal with the reality as it is.
@@vermontmike9800 Those are only two options. Almost everyone I knew, loved, cared for already died. And basically what I wrote to you is what I had to confront myself with. Either it's just the way things are, and no matter how much I protest the reality, it doesn't care, or there is still something to hope for. It's up to everyone to decide which of these two options they want accept.
Sometimes there is no answer to that question. Life will continue to be mysterious sometimes until we get to the other side when everyone will get the reward they have been working so hard for. Like working as a father for his country too while feeling angry enough to make a common Yiddish gesture maybe a bit too vigorously.
So I have couple of counterarguments to what he said. 1.- God giving us free will can explain the suffering that comes as a concequence of someone else's decitions. However, I don't see how it can explain the suffering caused by random events of nature, such as the lukemia example. As far as I can see, it could be totally possible for God to give us free will and for God to prevent any other bad thing from happening to us caused by the randomness of nature. Clearly, free will and the abscence of suffering are not compatible realities, but free will and the abscence of suffering that is produced by nature ( like a horrible accidental death of a child) are definetly compatible. Why, then, does God allow this type of suffering if it does not pose a threat to human free will? 2.- Common qualities of God are omnipotence and omnisciente, that is, God can do it all and God knows it all. If these truly are qualities of God, then how is it possible for us humans to have free will if God already knows what we are going to do? How is it possible for God to be all poweefull yet not able to create a reality where abscence of suffering and free will are compatible?
Even free will isn't a compelling explanation for suffering if the Christian God exists. - God violated people's free will a number of times in Biblical stories, both directly and by foiling their plans. - God respecting free will isn't compatible with a person taking away another's free will, such as through enslavement. Why is the slaver's free will sacred while the victim's is not? - God could allow free decisions and still prevent the evil _effects_ of those decisions, such as by vaporizing a bullet just before it hits someone. The shooter still exercises free will. - Eternity in Heaven is said to be free of evil and suffering. If this is done by restricting free will, then God doesn't value free will after all. If this is done while allowing free will, then free will isn't an obstacle and God could end suffering on Earth too.
@@chinonsoibe2384 Thanks. Unfortunately, God wanting to respect our free will is still by far the most popular Christian answer to the problem of suffering, as if God's only options are making us complete robots or doing absolutely nothing at all. None of them actually care about whether it's really a sound argument, only that it's superficially convincing to themselves so they don't have to consider the problem any more.
I think there is not a complete answer to the question of why do God allows suffering in this world. Only he knows. It’s a mistery. We can not understand the way God thinks. He is not human.
Suffering crucifies pride? Awesome! It might be why St. Pio said if we knew the value in suffering we'd pray for nothing more. What if the guy at the start of the story could believe his suffering was so good he'd pray for nothing more? Man, that's healing but who can be like St. Pio? Not me. Its not because I don't want to be. I'm just too weak. Our suffering might just be too important for us to go without it? There's a thought! Our suffering is redemptive because Christ sanctified it? There's healing! Now suffering at least has purpose! Suffering is a gift! Don't waste it! No wonder the world thinks we're mad. It's certainly not a health and wealth gospel is it. But its real. Suffering has power. Awesome. Now that I am old and in a nursing home and suffering I can do REAL work? That's so healing! I think you're right not to ask for it. St.Therese of Lisieux said don't look for great penances. Just accept the daily crosses from God each day. You know the little pain in the neck chores we don't want to do because they bore us, like getting out of bed every day and dragging our sorry asses off to work. That's all! That's your daily cross! Do everything for love of God. Give everything to Him and all things have purpose. be faithful in little crosses and one day God might bless you with a big one. I think this is the kind of peace the world cant offer.
When I was twenty-five, I had a major brain hemorrhage. The doctor told me that I would be dead within two hours. I was paralyzed and unable to speak at this time. But, I heard a voice at that time that told me I would not die. I did live and when I was thirty-two, I became a Christian. I am now fifty-six; a college graduate; have been happily married for the past fifteen years; and joined the Catholic Church in 2018. I am so grateful that I now follow the Lord. Through His death on the cross, I was healed.
Your story is beautiful, God bless you Raeannne.
What a wonderful story of God's grace and mercy. God bless you 🌈🙏
wow Amen
Too bad for all the people whose lives turn out badly. I guess your personal experience is all that matters.
Raeanne Woodman
you are quite the person
I am a 6"2' 230lb self proclaimed tough guy. This video made me well with tears. The years have difficult; my heart has been hardened and my faith shaken tremendously . Please, I ask for prayers for myself and those who have shared similar, sorrowful stories in the comments.
Thank you Ascension Presents and Fr. Alar, this video will be bookmarked and watched daily. God bless.
Pray without ceasing. We may not often understand the process of our sufferings but there is meaning within it. Hang on to God, he will deliver. He is faithful 💗
Have faith and trust in God dear Brother
🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
You got it, Bro !!! Huge prayers for you Big Time !!!
May Christ bless you Joe, and the Father's peace be with you on your life journey. Take care brother
I literally JUST had a conversation about why God would let people suffer two days ago. This was great thank you!
I want to say that I suffer a great deal. I am bedridden, always in pain and nauseous. My dad has always told me that there is a reason for my suffering. This is the best written, well acted video I have seen on the reason why God allows suffering. 🙏💜
No suffering means surrounding ourselves with things we like, that please us, achieved without effort. This raises our "quality of life", which after short time will bore us, and we want more, and more, and more.
With suffering there's growth, with suffering there's understanding of something superior to us, there's discovery of humility, of little things.
Ask yourselves why rich people always complain of every little and useless thing: it's because there's almost no suffering in their lives, and its more likely they never discovered it. And the ones who did, grew up humble and generous.
Amen!!
can i take your instgram or facebook account i;'m thinking of becoming a christian
You're implying that the death of a child is a good thing because it keeps us humble? Get help, man.
@@christopher3386 Hey...Suffering can't be justified with one single answer. It depends on the situation. And also death of a person can keep you humble. My Dad lost his father, he was totally devastated but during my grandfather's post-death period, my dad came closer to God and he has changed a lot
@@christopher3386 As it was said in the video, a much greater good can be brought about thanks to even the worst pain. I really wish you grew in the knowledge of God and be saved, who knows, maybe some of my own suffering will be offerred specifically for you...
But even from a secular perspective - if something bad has already happened and we cannot change that, why not get something positive from it? Maybe extra motivation to rescue other people who can be helped
Lord Jesus took away a lot of my suffering, I still suffer because of gossip and spies and stuff, but all my happiness is because of the mercy of Jesus, thanks to Saint Faustina
This last summer has been especially hard for my family, my uncle was murdered, and my parents are separating. This is exactly what I needed to hear. This to shall pass.
Redemptive suffering ! what a power and trust the Lord has on us that he allows us to share in His suffering
This is a powerful message for everyone who is suffering at this very minute. I surrender all to my Lord and Savior, who died for us and our sins! God have mercy on us and on the whole world. I'm praying for the grace to carry my cross. Thank you, Father Chris, for your prayers and ministry. May God continue to bless you, your parish and the entire world. Amen, amen!
He allowed his son to suffer crucifixion and now we have the opportunity to unite ourselves to Christ's sufferings.
@SørenCast Z We are to respect nature since its a creation of God, animal cruelty is horrible even in a Christian sense, however such as cruelty to other people God cannot intervene.
Praise be to God!
Brothers and sisters, pray for me. My job has become a very heavy cross right now, and fear I am not carrying it well.
DO it for JESUS!!
Carry your cross with Jesus. Offer it to him.
This pandemia... my husband up till now would say "I really don't need to pray so much, I don't need that Catholic Couples Society" (I've tried to join with him, no luck). For the past few weeks we've been praying Rosary with those families every night, and today at 3pm my husband came to me and asked to pray Divine Mercy Chaplet. If there wasn't for this great suffering, my husbands would not changed so dramatically.
THATS BEAUTIFUL!!
To God be the glory!
Thanks be to God🙏🙏💐
Thanks for sharing
That was powerful and enlightening. Thank you Fr. Chris Alar. God bless you 🌻🙏
In 2014, I lost my mother, in 2015, I lost my young intelligent brother and 7 months later, I lost my beloved father and it was hard. I have survived by God's grace and he has been faithful. I am yet to seen the good in all the suffering but I love God and I am devoted to being the best christian I can be. My father was a fervent Marian Devotee and hummed through pain until the end. Glory be God for their lives. Lord, help me to hold onto you, so that I can see them all one day in heaven.
It took me a solid 3 mins to comprehend what I just read..I you okay?
I lost my mom, my uncle, my brother in law and my cat in 2014. Tough year. I made it though and God showed me how strong I could be. See I always I had a fear of death not my own but losing my mom but I not only cared for her to the end (she died at home) and I nursed her, it made me realize that I could be strong when I needed to be.
I want to thank you 🙏 for being a great catholic leader. You speak the truth and are very wise. I have suffered with the death of my Son. I still have faith in Jesus and Mother Mary. Amen
Your son is with our Lord in heaven.
I was thinking about suffering, sacrifice and penance and eternity. Thank you Father and God bless. 🙏 Watching from New Zealamd🇳🇿
Thank you Father for this explanation. It will help many to take up their crosses for the glory of God .
Belonging to Christ is Gracefully Blessed privilege for people who have suffered & for those who are suffering.
I love this priest. Thank you!
This is so powerful.Thank you very much Father.
It's actually not that difficult for me to understand.
A couple years ago, while I was warring with God about my constant singleness, I read an anonymous user's perspective on the matter that is almost never shared in common religious circles: God could actually be mourning your singleness status with you, because He truly longs for you to fulfill His plans of marriage and family; but those dreams are, at least for now, rendered impossible because of so many people rejecting God (out of free will, which He would never dare rob us of) and therefore creating less of a selection for an appropriate, faithful partner.
This perspective saved my relationship with Him for good.
The idea that God mourns and is unwilling of all of our worldly tragedies, even if He already overcame them and can bring out a greater good, has proved His love for me more than anything else.
Regardless of His plans or our plans, He cares about your feelings and never rejoices in your pain. In fact, He is often in pain with you. That is the sign of a true friend who is for us rather than against us. That is love.
Can you prove any of that?
Wow I never thought of it like that.
Husky Fan in Mass Praying for you
I’m of the thought when you pray on this and leave it with the Lord( while following him) you will find love. Let the Lord find you a date - you stop pushing so hard. Prayers.💖🦩
Very well said, God bless you. Thank you for this inspiring testimony! 💗
suffering does take away pride, I can testify to that!
@@Roman-Labrador The worldly life has only one purpose which is for you to learn about God & get close to him spiritually. Nothing else really matters in the end. I've been suffering daily for many years, my life is completely broken too, but I've gained a lot spiritually & God has given me the grace to endure the suffering.
may be God is trusting you. You did well with 50 lbs, God thinks you can deal with another 50 lbs. God already knew whats gonna happen but you don't, God wants you to Know you can do l00lbs, with him.
@@Roman-Labrador you didn't fail with 50 lbs at all or you wouldn't have kept seeking God on youtube.
Fr. Chris I thank you and God for your ordination as a priest. You continue to touch my life in very special ways with your explanation of God's love. Thanks again. (Gerard)
Dear Father,
You look to be about 25 years younger than I am, an Army veteran and a policeman of 23 years and counting....
And already you have more wisdom with regard to our Blessed Lord than I may ever have. I shall pray the Glorious Mysteries of our Most Holy Rosary for you and priests like you.
Much Love and God Bless You.
THATS BEAUTIFUL!
Perfect offering to God our savior.
Thank you for the reassurance that suffering brings hope. God bless your ministry
I asked God why he could allow suffering and starvation, then I realized he was asking me the same thing.
Russell Schiwal Amen! We are God’s hands and feet. We need to follow through and work to help one another.
Sounds pretty presumptuous of an omnipotent being to expect a mere mortal to solve the world's problems.
@@huskyfaninmass1042 He is asking us whether we are helping to alleviate suffering or merely standing by or adding on to it.
@@huskyfaninmass1042 It's not presumptuous. Mother Theresa didn't set out to change the world or overthrow corrupt systems; she loved the one person in front of her. There are 2 billion Christians. If each of us pulled our own weight, loved our neighbors, turned the other cheek and forgive those around us we'd have heaven on Earth. Imagine what 2,000,000 Mother Theresas would do.
@@rschiwal I can only imagine that world 🌎 😔
Amen! Thank you Fr Chris!
Praise be Jesus Christ and Blessed be our Mother Mary
God Bless Fr. Chris Alar for this sharing.
thank you brother for this message, GOD bless you🙂❤️
God allows suffering to bring us closer to him…when do most people pray…when they’re suffering….dealing with something beyond their control…we can do nothing without God’s help and abundant blessings we can do everything with God’s grace…amen
Thank you Fr, God bless🙏❤️🙏
Great message for Holy Thursday! Very empowering and redemptive! God bless you all in your suffering!
God is Good Thank you Fr. Chris Alar. God bless you
Powerful message indeed. God bless you Fr. Chris Alar... please continue your incredible work of spreading the Lord's Divine Mercy.
Humility and suffering brings us closer to God, it shows effort in all we do.
Thank you Fr. Chris Alar, this was truly beautiful 🙌
Super amazing!!! Fr. Chris. Thank you so much for this homily! God Bless!
Tremendous. How misunderstood the true value of suffering is even for many, if not most, "Catholics". May God bless the good Fr.
Dziękuje!! Bóg zapłać. Praise be to Got!!
Thanks very much Fr Chris.
Fr Chris thank you. An excellent short video that explains the subject in a simple and easily understood way.
excellent Father. Thank you🙏🏻
Let’s all be happy this Easter Sunday during these time of suffering
Thank You Father God Bless You
Thanks You Father
Thankyou Father for your inspiring words
Powerful. Thank you Fr.
Beautiful. Thank you.
Thankyou father
i watch all videos of Fr. Chris Alar "Explaining the Faith" series. He played a huge part on me loving the Catholic faith more and deeper. thank you Father Chris!
It took time to me to understand this but it was so healing
Powerful message and great reminder!! Thank you, Father!
Thank you I needed to hear this. I have been dealing with an incurable disease & by Gods Grace I have been doing well but every now & then I take my eyes off of Jesus like Peter & fall into the water . Your talk pulled me out of the water into the boat to keep going & know there is a purpose
Wow! Very timely. Very well explained. Nice video Father. Thank you!
Amen, Fr. Chris. Thank you.
Ave Maria cheia da graca o Senhor e convosco. Bendita sois Vos entre as mulheres e Bendito e o frutto do vosso ventre Jesus.
That was beautiful father, thank you.
I was in so much need of this ... perfectly explained thank you father
Thank you Father oh what a timely vid I am in this situation somewhat and thank you for strengthening what I am struggling to believe. God bless Father 🥰
I wish all videos on this channel would be subtitled in multiple languages so that this content can reach as many people around the world
God bless you
Good idea
Thank you father. God bless you. Im seeing suffering as an opportunity to be like Christ.
Thank you so much for sharing this message and reminding me why I am suffering now. God bless you Father.
Thanks Father Chris Alar ! 🙏 ❤ More from Father Alar please.
couldn't be explained better, thanks! God Bless
Whenever i am saying this; God always take my sufferings; kept it to HIM. And i said, "God if this is not for me take it away from me; but, if this is for me; i only wanted to do it through Thy Most Sacred Heart and the Immaculate Heart of Mary [because i have no merit; for whatever purpose They like to use it]." Then, i completely submitted. ///// Fr, maybe, also, God would like us to practice, "Active Faith" like the first 12 Apostles; or to silently use HIS NAME and call our LADY, our Mother to rebuke away Satan; and to stop all the works of Satan! We do not have to be shouting to do it. But, we could say it silently with all FAITH. I even greeted the Tornadoes; but maybe it was my imagination; as if the flow of big WIND stop for a 3 seconds in front of me; but, i only wish to say hi and i wish it well. But, this time; i told my Lord; that i only wish for the WILL of God for the conversion of all to our Catholic Faith [just the Faith; not the religion]. The Faith that Lord JESUS IS GOD as written, ISAIAH 48;17 54;5. And Faith that there are Saints and honor them as written, DANIEL 7;18 & 27; Matthew 12;32.; and then, i wish only HIS WILL to end the Coronavirus. HE said in my heart that HE WILL IF they Convert to this Catholic Faith [not sure if it means to the Religion or just the Faith]. I heard one Evangelist who long ago was very opposite of what he was teaching before; his name, Dr Charles Stanley; but, now he is teaching that Lord JESUS IS GOD! It started; but, it will take time for all to say yes to Lord JESUS AS GOD! I wish also for all JEWS to CONVERT to our Catholic Faith; because, no matter how eloquent their reasons were; then, they still need to answer, "Jews, how can you face the face of ISAIAH and MICAH in the next life?" "Because ISAIAH wrote 48;17 & 54;5 clearly that the MESSIAH, YESHUA, JESUS, IS GOD! And MICAH 5;2 wrote that HE will be born in Bethlehem; from old "EVERLASTING" Who will RULE ALL ISRAEL!" AMEN.
amen
God is good all the time!
And all the time, God is Good🙌
@@melissaumuhire7804 and that's His nature... Wow
@@RahMarkJ Yes!! Praise God!
@@melissaumuhire7804 Praise God!
RahMargMark Family
That's nice that God is good to you all the time.
He was despised and abandoned by men,
A man of [b]great pain and familiar with sickness;
And like one from whom people hide their faces,
He was despised, and we had no regard for Him.
4However, it was our sicknesses that He Himself bore,
And our pains that He carried;
Yet we ourselves assumed that He had been afflicted,
Struck down by God, and humiliated.
5But He was [c]pierced for our offenses,
He was crushed for our wrongdoings;
The punishment for our [d]well-being was laid upon Him,
And by His wounds we are healed.
6All of us, like sheep, have gone astray,
Each of us has turned to his own way;
But the LORD has caused the wrongdoing of us all
To [e]fall on Him.
Praise Lord 🙏
Its out of some of the worst things that God turns into something beaitiful. You have to know that life really goes on after this. God is so merciful. Just never give up on trying to do better and show compassion to everybody. That homeless man on the street can be an angel. So love everyone. I dont care what color you are. You are all loved and I hope you have a blessed day and bless others as blessings come to you. Never allow your heart to turn cold or the enemy has you.
Good sentiments on how to treat other people, but as far as God goes, I'd be more likely to worship one who could make the beautiful thing without needing it to be one of the worst things first. He can't give everybody a home and then still make angels out of them? Weak God, I guess.
@@scotte4765 Well, we cannot fully understand everything, we don't always know how much more sanctified people become when they suffer with their trust in God. We don't know the eternal happiness that comes after. If God is perfectly good, that means things couldn't have been settled better for our salvation that they are
@@amask99 Thanks for the reply to a rather old comment. If God is perfectly good but a world filled with sickness, homeless people, and much that is far worse is still the best he can manage for his purposes, then I'd have to say again that he seems rather weak as our vision of gods goes. He seems like, at best, a comic book superhero: doing what he can but unable to actually be everywhere at once or prevent wrongs before they happen, and so on. But even that's overgenerous since Superman shows up and talks to people sometimes.
Why worship a being whom you think means well but can only manage a universe to the point of it still looking exactly like a universe with no God at all?
Amazing!! Thank you Father. Very well explained ❤️🙏🏻
Amen Father !
Preach it!
Thank you so much father Chris for this message of hope, same questions always I ask but you've just absolutely answered completely and now I realized that with suffering we are united and sharing God's sacrifices and love. I strongly believe that I will forever keep my fingers crossed in prayers and have faith and trust in God and surely will overcome all tribulations and challenges in life. God bless you my favourite priest.
Thank you for sharing this other aspect of suffering!!
Thank you
Wooooooooooo!!!! Yes! Amen! Wow! Just incredible.
I don't doubt that God is all powerful, but it it still amazes me when I pray for strength in my sufferings and the Lord grants me strength, or wisdom or patience or which ever I need because I look back at it and I know there is no way I could have gotten through it on my own.
In my life, suffering created strength. The suffering I felt years ago, aren’t such strong anymore. So I take Step for step to reach higher ground... every decision made, I made with a good feeling. So I could find the Way, where , I believe, god is on my side.
I am only 20 years old. I was diagnosed with stage one bone cancer 2 years ago and now the tumour has spread through my body. My doctors had announced there is no treatment for me. All I can do now is wait until I die. I started to lose sight of my left eye because of the brain tumour. Not to mention the unceasing pain. I am too young to die. I don’t want to leave my family and friends. I still don’t understand why I am suffering after watching this video. Nevertheless I still pray to god everyday for a miracle.
Accept this as soon as you can for the sake of your family, but continue praying for your miracle with “but your will be done” at the end. God is calling you home, it seems. Christ suffered, and it wasn’t fair. I suffer horrible pain (complex regional pain syndrome) after being shot several times, and it isn’t fair. You suffer terribly, and it isn’t fair. Today is Good Friday, so study the suffering of Christ. Study “redemptive suffering.” Your suffering has real meaning, and only the catholic faith has figured this out, which is surprising. You can use this for the good of others, even those in purgatory.
I'm truely sorry UR SUFFERING
But offer ur SUFFERING to God
When UR in a parade you see what's in front of you
But if UR in a helicopter you see the bigger picture!
I know it's tough I lost my eldest son 9mths ago suddenly
But I trust in God
God knows how it will all turn out!
Every life no matter if it's only a few minutes means something
Dont be frightened
HEAVEN will be BEAUTIFUL
No worries no troubles just love!
Maybe I'm not explaining this
But i know if you relax & sit with JESUS in the BLESSED SACRAMENT
You will understand wer I'm coming from!
God bless
I'm PRAYING for you right now!!
Hey dude how are you? Are you ok?
have u ever heard of chinese treatment go find a very expert chinese medicine doctor they help me myself in things doctors says it's unhealable this is the miracle you want
I often times asked the same question. Why do we humans have to suffer? For example I have a friend of mine who suffers from Crohn's disease and sometimes the suffering and emotional pain was too much for him and he sometimes started crying nonstop and I gave him comfort and hugged him and said, "Gabriel, hang in there. Don't easily give up. I'm here for you. And remember what it says in the book of Psalms, 'If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.'" And today, I have him on my Holy Rosary prayer list and the Divine Mercy prayer list. I honestly don't know how long his Crohn's disease will last but I sincerely hope and pray that there's a miracle for him and hopefully he'll come back to the Catholic Christian faith.
Offer to pay some of his medical bills and then you'll actually be doing something useful for him.
I really appreciate this video. I sent it to my teenage daughter who asks this question often. Thank you Fr. Chris for a great explanation. Loved it. God bless you.
The first humans chose the knowledge of good and evil so they were sent to where they could aquire it. The Lord only honored their choice.
A being true to His word ... We are still learning. Interference serves no one. "Pain makes man think, thought makes man wise, wisdom enables man to endure"
In 2007, my husband and I began a 3 year loss. Our mothers and his cousin died in 2007, his brother, uncle and my grandmother died in 2008, and in 2009 his job went away. For 6 years--until 2013--we struggled to pay the bills on our own home and their 2 houses on an unemployment check and finally Social Security. As we we were finishing that part of our lives, my husband was diagnosed to begin kidney dialysis. He had always been a religious man and even told his doctors, "I'm not afraid to die". Sadly in 2017, after nearly 4 years of being on dialysis, he died in his sleep. My 3 years of a "roller coaster" were about to begin. I began to look at life as a single person, doing things I had always wanted and needed to do. My daughter who lived with me did the same as she balanced that with dating a young man she had met before her father died. We were just getting "out of the fog" of our loss, when her young man approached me asking permission to propose to her. On the Feast of the Immaculate Conception (my birthday), he asked the question and she said yes. Our next year, 2019, was the beginning of a busy, happy and challenging year. While I missed sharing this event with my husband, our friends and family celebrated with us. And as you mentioned in your video about the little girl on the lap of Jesus, I think my husband was celebrating with all our family and friends in heaven.
Yes, we had suffered, but God does bring us joy. My daughter is now facing back surgery to take away 9 months of back pain, so we thank God for the medical staff who will work to remove her pain.
Thank you Jesus for blessings.
🙏🙏
We are thought never to just love the world but also love everything around it.
Pray for me father today , my name is suhail =su+hail and I live in dubai.
Blessings . 💗💗💗
@johnny bhai
Much love. ⚘⚘⚘
I'll include you in my prayer.
This topic is really really important and critical
AWESOME!
Wow 🙏🏼
I wish this was in Spanish! I could send this TO LOADS of people 😅💜💜💜
I am suffering from chemo and radiation side effects. And for my experience it almost seems more depressing when I enter the realms of hope. I literally have to use self confidence and motivation in order to move me out of hope. Hope brings depression during physical suffering. It is truely about enduring the situation with motivation, that things will be okay.
Hi Smokology, how are you now? Praying for you.
@@SteveC-Aus Hello sir, I'm doing alright just getting through reality one day at a time and doing my n best to enjoy it. Hope all is well with you 💯
Whoever helps the orphans and the widows, the Lord will help them if they believe in Him HalleluJah
Great explanation of a difficult subject.Thanks
IN SUFFERINGS, WE KNOW GOD BETTER. WE WILL PRAY FOR HEALING, ASK GOD FOR OUR PROGRESS, OTHERWISE, WE ARE GOOD, WE DO NOT EVEN REMEMBER GOD, IN SUFFERING, WE KNOW TO PRAY BETTER.🥰❤🙏
HE's still the God I serve.....He loves unconditionally..... I love HIM too whether am happy or not coz I know HE's always with me in all situations...... and I think HIM for all bad and good time I go through for the entire day......suffering makes my faith stronger coz I only have to rely on Almighty God ....
Are you sure that Christianity is the right religion? If you have faith in your god and other religions have just as much faith in their god/s, why are you right and they wrong?
What a BS response. I need a logical answer. Why did my 4 year old cat suffer horribly before congestive heart failure took him? Why do children suffer from, then die of cancer? The priest never answers the question.
The real question is why does that bother you? Your car and you are biological creatures, under the laws of physics and under the law of decay. If you believe in God, than you know it's not the whole story. If you don't believe in God, than frecking learn to deal with the reality as it is.
@@stephenson19861 😢
@@vermontmike9800 Those are only two options. Almost everyone I knew, loved, cared for already died. And basically what I wrote to you is what I had to confront myself with.
Either it's just the way things are, and no matter how much I protest the reality, it doesn't care, or there is still something to hope for. It's up to everyone to decide which of these two options they want accept.
Sometimes there is no answer to that question. Life will continue to be mysterious sometimes until we get to the other side when everyone will get the reward they have been working so hard for. Like working as a father for his country too while feeling angry enough to make a common Yiddish gesture maybe a bit too vigorously.
So I have couple of counterarguments to what he said.
1.- God giving us free will can explain the suffering that comes as a concequence of someone else's decitions. However, I don't see how it can explain the suffering caused by random events of nature, such as the lukemia example. As far as I can see, it could be totally possible for God to give us free will and for God to prevent any other bad thing from happening to us caused by the randomness of nature. Clearly, free will and the abscence of suffering are not compatible realities, but free will and the abscence of suffering that is produced by nature ( like a horrible accidental death of a child) are definetly compatible. Why, then, does God allow this type of suffering if it does not pose a threat to human free will?
2.- Common qualities of God are omnipotence and omnisciente, that is, God can do it all and God knows it all. If these truly are qualities of God, then how is it possible for us humans to have free will if God already knows what we are going to do? How is it possible for God to be all poweefull yet not able to create a reality where abscence of suffering and free will are compatible?
These are great points, I’m curious to anyone having an answer to this
Even free will isn't a compelling explanation for suffering if the Christian God exists.
- God violated people's free will a number of times in Biblical stories, both directly and by foiling their plans.
- God respecting free will isn't compatible with a person taking away another's free will, such as through enslavement. Why is the slaver's free will sacred while the victim's is not?
- God could allow free decisions and still prevent the evil _effects_ of those decisions, such as by vaporizing a bullet just before it hits someone. The shooter still exercises free will.
- Eternity in Heaven is said to be free of evil and suffering. If this is done by restricting free will, then God doesn't value free will after all. If this is done while allowing free will, then free will isn't an obstacle and God could end suffering on Earth too.
@@scotte4765 I love this explanation
@@chinonsoibe2384 Thanks. Unfortunately, God wanting to respect our free will is still by far the most popular Christian answer to the problem of suffering, as if God's only options are making us complete robots or doing absolutely nothing at all. None of them actually care about whether it's really a sound argument, only that it's superficially convincing to themselves so they don't have to consider the problem any more.
I think there is not a complete answer to the question of why do God allows suffering in this world. Only he knows. It’s a mistery. We can not understand the way God thinks. He is not human.
Suffering crucifies pride? Awesome! It might be why St. Pio said if we knew the value in suffering we'd pray for nothing more. What if the guy at the start of the story could believe his suffering was so good he'd pray for nothing more? Man, that's healing but who can be like St. Pio? Not me. Its not because I don't want to be. I'm just too weak. Our suffering might just be too important for us to go without it? There's a thought! Our suffering is redemptive because Christ sanctified it? There's healing! Now suffering at least has purpose! Suffering is a gift! Don't waste it! No wonder the world thinks we're mad. It's certainly not a health and wealth gospel is it. But its real. Suffering has power. Awesome. Now that I am old and in a nursing home and suffering I can do REAL work? That's so healing!
I think you're right not to ask for it. St.Therese of Lisieux said don't look for great penances. Just accept the daily crosses from God each day. You know the little pain in the neck chores we don't want to do because they bore us, like getting out of bed every day and dragging our sorry asses off to work. That's all! That's your daily cross! Do everything for love of God. Give everything to Him and all things have purpose. be faithful in little crosses and one day God might bless you with a big one.
I think this is the kind of peace the world cant offer.