You Must Follow Me.
Today's Gospel is the last passage of John, and Peter was mentioned. And if we read from the beginning of John's Gospel, from the first chapter, Peter was called by Jesus and Peter's journey had started from that time until today. Let me show you an imaginative video of Peter's life namely "A movie of Peter's life according to novice Joseph Vuong"
Jesus called Peter at the hour of 4pm, then Peter left his net and followed the call. He went with him to the wedding of Cana, met the woman of Samaria, passed the field and picked the rice to eat, helped in distributing the bread & fish to feed the five thousand, accompanied Jesus to help a man with a withered hand, paralytic, leper, blind and unable to speak. He as well sat down and listened to the teaching of the treasures in heaven, the parable of the sower, the parable of the weed, walked in the water, and sunk, he professed Jesus as the Christ, listened to the parable of the lost sheep, witnessed how Jesus forgave and save the adultery woman, went to the mountain and have a witness of God's transfiguration, ate the last supper with the teacher, denied him and cried later on. Run to the tomb to find the teacher and rejoice in the resurrection of his teacher.
- How about your journey? How about my journey? Yes...my journey in novitiate is about to end (9 days to go). I also have my own movie on this journey. I lost my way at the beginning, isolated myself from recreation activities, overwhelmed with joy when I came to discover my impure motivations, I was happy together with tiredness, I have crises in recalling my past, the process of accepting them, called them by name and healed them through the formation process. I was happy to play with the community but also times of doubting God's love and his goodness, I was energetic when life is a bed of roses but then hurt by conflicts and again grateful for all the blessings which helped me to remove my old and false self and put on my true self, say goodbye to masks. And the climax was grounded by the foundation of being loved unconditionally in my 30-day retreat.
Come close to Peter's stories and my stories, there are similarities such as times of happiness, joy, inspired as well as sinking, doubting, getting lost, betrayed. But importantly, we trust, we keep faith in Jesus. Life after ups and downs, crises and falls, difficulties, trials, and challenges as well...I do not rely on my own strength but I rely on you, Lord. I know that you know me well then I do. You know my goodwill (bona fide) and you know how much I need you and
"Lord, you know all things,
You know that I love you" Jn 21:17
After starting any journey, I usually ask my self "What makes the journey meaningful?". I confidently say that none of us are exempted from hurting. It is either I hurt people or being hurt by people or even I hurt my own self whenever I show no patience, gentleness, tolerance towards my limitations. Admittedly, I was hurt, will be hurt by the words, actions of people, or even there will be times the road I am going, journeying is rough, hilly, and stone. It is seemingly I catch nothing after a night, I am sleepless, I am tired; it is likely the darkness of nights in my soul is expanding longer. In those unpleasant times, I need to put on again my shirt of Integrity and Fidelity, jump out of the bout and come to him; I need to be reminded that he is there, he is responsible for his call unto my life.
Joseph Nguyễn Lê Thế Vương, MSC.
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