Consolation in the Cross

The Mercy Mission year has brought me face to face with human limitations and poverty in myself and others. But in that I have also been reminded of the infinite love of God that can fill any of those places.

As Mercy Missionaries we have the blessing of going to Mass daily. This is where I get my strength for all that I do, where I can unload my burdens and be filled up again. I was reminded of this power one daily Mass during the consecration. My eyes closed in prayer, the Holy Spirit inspired images, which is one way the Lord speaks to me. I saw Jesus on the cross. Bloodied, battered, wounded. I saw my friends on the street, their faces too. Jesus had all of their wounds. He had Tim’s concussion, knee injury, and all his other many wounds. He had all of their psychological and emotional wounds too. To my little mind, seeing all of this suffering was a little overwhelming. But that just shows how much God loves us. Jesus took on all of humanity's suffering but that means he took on each of our individual suffering too and already transforms it.

As the Mass continued, I saw how the story of our salvation unfolds. We re-present Christ’s death and resurrection and can unite everything we do in that. At the sign of peace, I thought of all the ways Jesus can make peace and reconciliation, even in the suffering and trauma of our friends on the street. And at Communion I saw how I get to receive the Risen Christ, who has already won the victory for my friends. 

Earlier that day, I had been feeling discouraged about what I could do for my friends. I had been feeling my limitations and like I had little to offer. After Communion, Jesus spoke in my heart, “Maria, never think that you have nothing.” Christ is everything. And he gives himself to us. We take him out to the streets. And he is more than enough.

~Maria Nehnevaj