“Do
not let your hearts be troubled.” Jesus
gives us words of comfort today, but when we're going through a difficult time in our lives, these words might not sink in. I was
remembering my mission experiences in Ecuador this past weekend with news of
the earthquake that hit that country.
The epicenter was actually not that far from the coastal rainforest
region where I served as a missionary there for 3 years. I was
telling Kris and Michelle in the office earlier this week that I felt lucky
to have survived a lot of the experiences that I had there. I
used to travel from the capital city of Quito to the jungle region on the coast
on these rickety buses that would take an entire day of travel. When
I would transport things on them, mostly supplies for the schools and projects
that I administered, I would have to sit up on the top of the bus with the
goats and the chickens to safeguard everything I was transporting. One
day, when I was trying to get my things down from the top of the bus, I mis-stepped
and ended up falling off. Luckily, my fall
was cushioned by my backpack, so I was not hurt or injured at all. I
remember all challenges, struggles, and traumatic experiences that I endured
as a missionary, but even in the midst of those experiences, I had a peace in my heart that God gave me. We
are not promised that our lives will be easy or without challenges. Jesus is there with us every step of the
way. With that assurance, may our hearts not be troubled.
This is a blog of homilies, reflections, and photos from a Roman Catholic priest serving in the Diocese of Jackson in the state of Mississippi. Currently, I am the pastor of Holy Savior in Clinton and Immaculate Conception in Raymond. I have served as Vicar General of the Diocese since July 2019. I also serve as Catholic chaplain in the federal prison in Yazoo City and the state prison in Pearl.
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