STANDING BY ME, GIVING ME STRENGTH
In
one of my most trying moments, when the world seemed to have crumbled
down on me, when everybody seemed to have deserted me, when nothing made
sense, and no amount of good words could make me snap out of the dumps
that I felt I had been relegated to, the only thing that sustained me
was the realization that there was at least a few who were there,
standing by me, refusing to judge or condemn me. They were there, not to
tell me anything, nor preach to me, but simply to give me strength.
One
memorable retreat where I preached to fellow priests, most of whom were
younger than me, was ironically when I was at my lowest point. Close to
tears, I was sharing with them my heartaches, which all boiled down to
my feeling, rightly or wrongly, that everything I had done for the
congregation that I served faithfully, and the Church that I loved,
suddenly were not appreciated, let alone recognized. I became an
overnight pariah, punished for something that I thought I did in the
function of my role and office.
The
minister that I was, after that sharing, became the very one ministered
to. One of them came up to me after the talk and shared with me his own
moving story that reverberated with mine. He did not come up to preach
moving, pious words. He just wanted to tell me that he was there,
standing by me, giving me strength, from his own story of weakness
turned into a moving story of the power of God’s grace.
Paul
is one of my favorite saints, along with the reluctant and erstwhile
whining prophet, Jeremiah. Even now, a picture of Jeremiah in
lamentation by Rembrandt is one that keeps me perpetual company in my
study. Both have sad stories to tell. Today, Paul tells us a story of
abandonment, with only Luke standing fast. He must have felt alone, like
I did at some point, like my brother priest did, leading him even to
the point of wishing for sweet death to come.
This is the story I’d like you to remember: “The Lord stood by me and gave me strength.” And it is all that matters. Fr. Chito Dimaranan, SDB
REFLECTION QUESTION: Recall a time when you felt your world crumbled down and you were left with nothing. What helped you rise from it?
Thank You, Lord Jesus, for standing by me always and for giving me strength when everyone else has turned his back on me.
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