Is suffering meaningless? I suppose without having the experience of great joy in the midst of or shortly after suffering one is tempted to conclude the there is no benefit to suffering. It is paradoxical. Jesus suffered on a cross propelled forward to his death by his passionate love for us and desire to do the will of his Father. In love with his enemies, even as reviled by them, willingly lays down his life to save us. Bittersweet unrequited love. He laments, "I have

Richard Rohr in a recent meditation writes, 'Jesus is not observing human suffering from a distance but is somehow in human suffering with us and for us. He also questions 'Could it be true that we 'make up in our bodies all that still has to be undergone for the sake of the Whole Body? Are we somehow partners with the divine?' and then concludes, 'Of course we are! In fact, I think that is the whole point.' I think Richard Rohr is right in his meditation. God does not leave