It is but normal to run away from pain and suffering, right? In Psychology, there are two disorders with regard to pain: sadism and masochism. Sadism is the tendency to derive pleasure from inflicting pain, suffering and harm on someone. Masochism is getting pleasure from pain that is self-imposed or imposed by others. Sadism and masochism are not virtues – they are sicknesses.
In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus said to his disciples that He would suffer greatly from the elders, the chief priest, and the scribes, and be killed. Peter, with a high-strung personality type, protested and said: “God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you,” to which Peter received the worst reprimand one could ever imagine: “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”
Jesus’ suffering and pain are meaningful and salvific. They have an element of sacrifice that leads to healing and salvation. The word ‘sacrifice’ comes from two Latin words: SACRI (sacred) and FACIO (to make). Sacrifice literally means to make holy. It is from this perspective that the suffering and pain that Jesus embraced should be understood. He suffered and endured pain for us to become healed, saved and holy.
Valerie Price followed Christ’s sacrifice. According to worldly standards, she is a nobody. In 2005, though, 23 year-old Valerie went to Somalia as a nurse. She wanted to help people who are poor. She wanted to offer them a better way of life. She was concerned about her safety, but nothing would stop her from doing her work. She was in charge of a feeding center in Mogadishu. Through her life-saving efforts, children who had been near starvation were fed. Valerie even established a school so the children could learn and have some hope for the future. Valerie was fortunate to see some of the fruits of her labor. In 2009, Valerie made the national news. She was killed by armed bandits outside the school she had started. She was willing to share and risk her life to help other people. Jesus tells us that in losing her life she actually found it.
Let us do our share. Let’s make sacrifices and embrace our crosses. Doing so has its own reward: “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.” (Mt.16:25)
#7 A JOKE FROM ST. JOE: Peter: “Did you not shave today?” Romeo: “Oh! I shaved twenty seven times today.” Peter: “Don't tell me that. Why would you have to do that?” Romeo: “Oh! I am a good barber.”
In this first week of September, we go back to the Church for our Weekday Masses. It’s Labor Day on this Monday and at the same time from 11AM to 2PM in Joseph Hall, I have my big Birthday Party. Please, join me in this celebration. On the 8th, it is the feast of the Nativity of the BVM. And on the 8th we have the memorial of St. Peter Claver SJ, Priest and Patron Saint of Columbia and all missions of Black people. This is all for now, watch for the next bulletin. God Bless!
Your Priest-Servant and Parochial Administrator,
Fr. Reggie