I visited her at the rehabilitation center, unaware that she had been confined there for a month. She shared that she had suffered a stroke, during which doctors discovered a blood clot in her brain. Fortunately, she survived and is able to talk, although she cannot move her left hand.
She was very happy to see me and even apologized for not calling sooner, explaining that she had gone through a period of confusion. I told her that I had come to give her the Sacrament of Anointing, which pleased her, and we began to pray.
As I prayed, I recited the words of the Gospel reading I had memorized: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon your shoulders and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart. For my yoke is easy and my burden light.” As I proclaimed this passage, I noticed that she was whispering the words along with me, which impressed me deeply. After a few more prayers, I took the sacred host from a pyx to give her Holy Communion. When she saw the host, tears filled her eyes, which I believed were tears of joy. Filled with gratitude, she reverently received the Body of Christ.
This visit, rooted in faith, illuminated my heart with the understanding that our love for God and our faith in Jesus Christ—our participation in His suffering and death—serve to strengthen us as we bear our own crosses, whether they be sickness, old age, the death of a loved one, or any form of suffering. I often say that I cannot fathom how I would overcome life’s challenges and carry my own crosses without God by my side. I may not always recognize His presence in my life, but I know He has always been my source of strength, wisdom, joy, and hope. I’m certain that this parishioner I visited shares my sentiment.
In this Sunday’s Gospel, our Lord Jesus reprimands Peter for failing to understand the significance and power of the Cross and suffering in His life. Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”
What do these shocking words mean for us? They signify that Jesus can save us only through His obedience to the Father, culminating in His death and resurrection. This also emphasizes that carrying our crosses is the only certain path to eternal life—a life characterized by obedience to God out of love for Him, selfless love, service, and kindness to others, devoid of self-glory, greed, indifference, and arrogance.
Suffering will always be a part of our lives; we cannot avoid it until the time we die. That’s why it is important that we do not bear it alone. We have our loved ones and friends to serve as our Simon of Cyrene; we have saints and angels to help and intercede for us; and we have Jesus encouraging us to endure our sufferings and lighten our burdens.
In the end, we must surrender every pain, uncertainty, anxiety, fear, and doubt to Jesus. This is all we can do. The wisdom and consequence of surrendering is the peace and assurance that God will reward us with eternal life after our time on earth.
As the Gospel acclamation in this Sunday’s Mass reminds us: “May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten the eyes of our hearts, that we may know what is the hope that belongs to our call.”
In Christ’s love,
* * *
The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
* * *
Fr. Rodel “Odey” Balagtas is the pastor of Incarnation Church in Glendale, California
