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April 24, 2020 - Sacrifice to Save the World
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What are we willing to sacrifice in order to save the world? At any other time this question would seem out of place and strange, but now in this time of pandemic we are all asked to endure suffering in order to help save others.
Our world is in great distress. Many people are suffering from fear of sickness and death, stress from the loss of jobs, challenge of caring for the sick, and various other difficulties from the ramifications of the pandemic. As I prayed today the sorrowful mysteries of the rosary I was particularly struck by that first mystery - the Agony in the Garden. Jesus comes to His time of most intense suffering, with the choice to accept or reject the Father's will. He is faced with the important question, "What are you willing to sacrifice to save the world?" Our eternal life depends on the generosity of His response. The world awaits with great fearful, anxious anticipation to hear those glorious words of our Savior, "Father not my will, but your will be done." This simple response brings about the death of sin and the opportunity for the salvation of the world!
Perhaps this is our time of agony...our agony in the garden. We suffer in anguish at the tragedy we see before us. Unlike Jesus we are not certain what awaits us next, what more suffering or restrictions may come. Yet like Jesus we are here against our will - we don't want to endure this suffering, and are faced with a choice. Like Jesus, our choice is one of trust and acceptance.
Jesus knew His acceptance of the Father's will would lead to His suffering, death and crucifixion on the Cross. But also that the death would not be the end. He knew that He would rise on the third day - resurrection would come after this excruciating suffering and death. Our strength and courage to accept our suffering in trust, comes from our faith in the new life Jesus promises to us who follow Him. We cannot escape the suffering that lays before us. We are suffering from isolation...isolation from society and even family...isolation from work...even isolation from the presence of Jesus in the sacraments. It challenges us all and it should.
Jesus shows us the proper path to take. Let us make His prayer our own, "Father not my will but your will be done." In other words I don't want to be isolated from family and friends, my work and school, and certainly be kept from Your presence in the sacraments. Yet I understand that this is the path You ask me to walk. I will do it with trust...without complaint...without rebuke or refusal. I will submit to the just authority you use to guide us through this time, Heavenly Father. Trusting that through them, You are guiding all of us safely, though mysteriously, to new life.
What am I willing to suffer to save the world? Let us courageously proclaim with great faith...anything that is willed by Our Heavenly Father.