My pastoral visits to different regions always reveal particular
cases that, while they move me deeply, ultimately teach me profound
lessons.
Every week I visit various parishes in remote areas to witness
firsthand the efforts of our priests and to help accordingly—not only
with advice and planning but also practically in building churches,
clinics, schools, orphanages, and so on, as well as with feeding
programs that provide a meal to the poor and forgotten orphaned children
we encounter everywhere.
Although the journey was tiring, it didn’t discourage me. I always
prioritize this mission. After conveying the message to both the priest
and the parishioners about close cooperation and their contribution to
development among the villagers, especially regarding charity work, the
priest invited me to pray for two sick people.
A Shocking Encounter
Within minutes we reached our destination. We walked through the lush
vegetation along a path. We arrived and were welcomed by a middle-aged
woman.
She was happy to see us, especially that we would see her two sick
sons. What a surprise and what pain, however, when we realized the
condition of both patients… These were two boys who had been paralyzed
since birth—and not only that. They couldn’t understand, couldn’t speak,
couldn’t feel their legs or arms.
I made the sign of the cross and began with “Blessed is our God.”
After reading the appropriate prayers with holy oil that I always carry
for special cases, I anointed all parts of their bodies with their
mother’s help. “For the healing of soul and body!” It wasn’t easy.
The Mother’s Example
I was amazed, however, by the mother. One was forty, the other
twenty-five. Without a father, of course! What a cross! I thought. Such
love, such sacrifice, such selflessness, I thought. I wondered again and
again how this woman could single-handedly provide day and night care
for these creatures of God all these years, without complaint, without
weariness, silently and with such devotion.
Once again I remembered how we so-called faithful Christians complain
and don’t think about how many people like us carry a permanent and
unbearable burden in their lives—that of the cross.
How instructive this situation is, offering us an invitation rather
than imposing it upon us, so we have this choice to freely decide
whether we want to carry this cross that will become for us a revelation
that we didn’t do what we thought we were doing, but what God Himself
wanted. Our submission to God’s will was so positive and fruitful that
in the end we have this great honor and blessing to enjoy the goods of
His heavenly Kingdom.
Through all this we will better recognize and understand the value of
life and our existence through the gospel virtues of purity, humility,
selflessness, and gentleness.
The Lesson of Love
This mother with her two disabled children sits there and quietly
offers her humble service without complaint, with selflessness and
without seeking attention, inspired by the same love that Christ Himself
offered to every person regardless of color, race, language, or origin.
This act of hers, therefore, builds unreservedly all the riches of
her soul with the heavenly transfusions of God’s grace. Through her
spiritual goodness and sincere humility without any self-promotion
unfolds that virtue of love and mercy for which God of ultimate humility
and compassion will reward her, since she has lived and practically
applied the gospel teaching: “Let all that you do be done in love.”
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