July 9, 2011 – Colossians 1

24 - I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ. I have always wondered about this.

“Now one man can satisfy for another, as we have explained above ([4920]Q[13], A[2]). And the saints in whom this super-abundance of satisfactions is found, did not perform their good works for this or that particular person, who needs the remission of his punishment (else he would have received this remission without any indulgence at all), but they performed them for the whole Church in general, even as the Apostle declares that he fills up "those things that are wanting of the sufferings of Christ . . . for His body, which is the Church" to whom he wrote (Col. 1:24). These merits, then, are the common property of the whole Church. Now those things which are the common property of a number are distributed to the various individuals according to the judgment of him who rules them all. Hence, just as one man would obtain the remission of his punishment if another were to satisfy for him, so would he too if another's satisfactions be applied to him by one who has the power to do so.” OF INDULGENCES (THREE ARTICLES) Aquinas, St. Thomas [1225-1274 AD]

This is just something I found that was talking about this verse. It seems to make some sense. When we are talking about the “Christ that is lacking” he seems to be talking about the Body of Christ, that is the Church, made up of us that are flawed. St. Thomas seems to be talking about the indulgences in regards to this verse because of the Catholic doctrine on this. There is a treasury of God’s Grace that is built up based on different holy and spiritual works that are done. Many of these can still be done and when you are doing them to can offer them up for yourself or someone else. It seems like St. Paul is talking about all the suffering he has gone through has been done and continues to be done for the grace that is needed to make the Church Holy. There is nothing lacking in Christ, which the footnote points out, but we do participate in the work of God, the Salvation of the world, when we offer our actions and our suffering to Him. Because God does not need our help, what else can we help but the Church and the World, which is a part of God that is lacking and need of healing.