Fr. SUDARMANTO sx
XIX SUNDAY O.T. YEAR B
On my way home for leave, I had a conversation with a priest working in town. When I told him that I was posted in Mongo Parish, he was rather shocked, convinced that the Xaverian Missionaries had finally left that remotest parish of the Makeni Diocese in Sierra Leone. He said that he could not imagine himself working in that remote area, with poor means of communication and transportation, especially with such bad roads and other poor facilities, having to spend time, energy and money for just a few people.
Then he asked me if I would go back to work there on my return from leave. When I replied that, of course, I would, he said that he admired the Xaverians, who are so faithful in carrying out this kind of mission, in an isolated place, with so few christians. During my flight, I kept thinking about that conversation, especially about the fact that for many people, even for a priest, it is not easy to understand the mission that the Xaverians are carrying out.
When I arrived in Jakarta, my friends who picked me up were asking about the flight and the whole journey. I told them that from my parish (Mongo) I had to travel 4 hours by car to reach Kabala, then about 2 hours more to reach Makeni. Then from Makeni to the airport in Lungi, 2 hours more. From Lungi to Casablanca, 4 hours by air; from Casablanca to Dubai around 8 hours, and again from Dubai to Jakarta around 8 hours. “Wow!” they exclaimed. “ And what about this ebola virus disease?” After more than 1 year, in spite of all the efforts from so many people, government, international and local organisation, there are still cases every day. My friends in Jakarta could not believe my story. But they, too, admired the work of the missionaries; they were asking me how to do something to support their work. For these friends of mine it was simply unthinkable doing this kind of missionary work. It seemed to them something crazy. They feel admiration, but it is really difficult for them simply to imagine giving one’s life to this kind of ‘adventure’. How can I take on this kind of mission!
To be honest, some times this kind of question comes to my mind, too. “Am I working for something or for nothing in such a demanding and difficult mission? Spending energy, time, concern and material goods, too...?” At times I myself feel like Elijah, who turned to God and said: “This is enough, Lord” (1 Kings 19:4). There are other opportunities and choices that sound a more reasonable and enjoyable, easier and even more ‘fruitful’. Why do I to have work for this kind of mission?
As the angel of the Lord touched Elijah and told him to eat and drink, so that he would be able to continue his journey, it was most likely the same with me. It was because God touched my life, to strengthen me, that I was able to continue my mission, with love and perseverance. God touches me through the humble generosity of the faithful community who walk with me along the way, through their cooperation and friendship and love.
He touches me especially through the humble generosity of the One who said: “I am the living bread that has come down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world” (John 6:51).It is Jesus who gives Himself to be my strength, so that I can carry out a joyful ministry in service to His Kingdom, His mission, in whatever conditions. The generosity of the Lord in the Eucharist is the source of our strength for our demanding mission journey. Not only in the mission fields of Africa, Asia or elsewhere, but also in our mission journey in our family life and among our friends. As St. Paul writes, removing all bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, malice is a demanding mission. Replacing them with kindness, compassion, forgiveness is quite a struggle. But to the Ephesians he said that it is not an impossible mission, as long as “...we live in love, as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us as a sacrificial offering to God as a fragrant aroma .”(Ephesians 5:2).
In our life, let us try to be open to the generosity of God, so that we may be able, in our turn, to be generous in giving ourselves – as a fragrant offering - for a mission journey with joy and enthusiasm.
XIX SUNDAY O.T. YEAR B
On my way home for leave, I had a conversation with a priest working in town. When I told him that I was posted in Mongo Parish, he was rather shocked, convinced that the Xaverian Missionaries had finally left that remotest parish of the Makeni Diocese in Sierra Leone. He said that he could not imagine himself working in that remote area, with poor means of communication and transportation, especially with such bad roads and other poor facilities, having to spend time, energy and money for just a few people.
Then he asked me if I would go back to work there on my return from leave. When I replied that, of course, I would, he said that he admired the Xaverians, who are so faithful in carrying out this kind of mission, in an isolated place, with so few christians. During my flight, I kept thinking about that conversation, especially about the fact that for many people, even for a priest, it is not easy to understand the mission that the Xaverians are carrying out.
When I arrived in Jakarta, my friends who picked me up were asking about the flight and the whole journey. I told them that from my parish (Mongo) I had to travel 4 hours by car to reach Kabala, then about 2 hours more to reach Makeni. Then from Makeni to the airport in Lungi, 2 hours more. From Lungi to Casablanca, 4 hours by air; from Casablanca to Dubai around 8 hours, and again from Dubai to Jakarta around 8 hours. “Wow!” they exclaimed. “ And what about this ebola virus disease?” After more than 1 year, in spite of all the efforts from so many people, government, international and local organisation, there are still cases every day. My friends in Jakarta could not believe my story. But they, too, admired the work of the missionaries; they were asking me how to do something to support their work. For these friends of mine it was simply unthinkable doing this kind of missionary work. It seemed to them something crazy. They feel admiration, but it is really difficult for them simply to imagine giving one’s life to this kind of ‘adventure’. How can I take on this kind of mission!
To be honest, some times this kind of question comes to my mind, too. “Am I working for something or for nothing in such a demanding and difficult mission? Spending energy, time, concern and material goods, too...?” At times I myself feel like Elijah, who turned to God and said: “This is enough, Lord” (1 Kings 19:4). There are other opportunities and choices that sound a more reasonable and enjoyable, easier and even more ‘fruitful’. Why do I to have work for this kind of mission?
As the angel of the Lord touched Elijah and told him to eat and drink, so that he would be able to continue his journey, it was most likely the same with me. It was because God touched my life, to strengthen me, that I was able to continue my mission, with love and perseverance. God touches me through the humble generosity of the faithful community who walk with me along the way, through their cooperation and friendship and love.
He touches me especially through the humble generosity of the One who said: “I am the living bread that has come down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world” (John 6:51).It is Jesus who gives Himself to be my strength, so that I can carry out a joyful ministry in service to His Kingdom, His mission, in whatever conditions. The generosity of the Lord in the Eucharist is the source of our strength for our demanding mission journey. Not only in the mission fields of Africa, Asia or elsewhere, but also in our mission journey in our family life and among our friends. As St. Paul writes, removing all bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, malice is a demanding mission. Replacing them with kindness, compassion, forgiveness is quite a struggle. But to the Ephesians he said that it is not an impossible mission, as long as “...we live in love, as Christ loved us and handed himself over for us as a sacrificial offering to God as a fragrant aroma .”(Ephesians 5:2).
In our life, let us try to be open to the generosity of God, so that we may be able, in our turn, to be generous in giving ourselves – as a fragrant offering - for a mission journey with joy and enthusiasm.