The Joy of the Kingdom
If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me. (Matthew 16:24)
Despite serious concerns about my safety, I traveled in peace to Nicaragua in January. Fourteen priests, two seminarians and two bishops were put in jail during that time. Nevertheless, I was blessed with a deep, consoling joy, and with the certitude that the Lord wouldn’t abandon His Church. A week later, those prisoners were released to the Vatican.
As I sat joyfully on the plane back to Boston, the young man next to me asked me, “What can one do to stop violence and war in the world?” Then he explained that although he was agnostic, he appreciated the witness of ‘nuns.’ I simply shared that a similar question stirred my heart a long time ago when a civil war broke out in Nicaragua; but surprisingly, I experienced, right there, a profound sense of the existence of God, and the conviction that following Jesus was not only the answer, but also the only ideal worth giving my life for.
I didn’t mention that when I had to face exile, suffering, difficulties, and desolation, I doubted… my love for Jesus was too imperfect and shallow. I am a religious Sister today not because I was brave enough to renounce my own will, my career, and many other good things, but because Jesus kept asking me over, and over again, “Do you love me?”
Now, how does all of this relate to Palm Sunday? Today, Jesus enters triumphantly into Jerusalem, not seeking military power or riches, but as the King of Peace. A large crowd follows Him joyfully chanting “Hosanna!” and throwing palm branches and cloaks at His feet. The disciples must’ve been thrilled and very proud to have followed Jesus for three years; but a few days later, they didn’t even want to be associated with Jesus. In fact, one betrayed Him for money, another denied having ever known “the man,” and the rest fled in fear. Moreover, those who had witnessed His miracles and healings, and the joyful crowd, succumbed to the pressure of the masses shouting, “Crucify Him!”
Yes, it’s dangerous and risky to follow Jesus up close. We might have to make profound decisions that might gain for us the hatred of the world and even of those closest to us. We might be intimidated by the voice of society pressuring us to submit to deceptive demands or succumb to the attraction of material possessions or the subtle temptations of the evil one. Yes, it’s risky to trust Jesus when He asks us to renounce our attachments and securities, like He did the rich young man, and trust that God will take care of us like the lilies of the field. It’s even more so when we are confronted with trials, sickness, suffering, or persecution, like the priests in Nicaragua today.
Yes, it’s very difficult to trust in Jesus, but little Christina did and she did it through the crucible and to the end. She was a true disciple who preached by the witness of her life in consonance with her words. How about us? I know that I failed Jesus when things got rough early in my life; but, as with Peter and the others, Jesus forgave me and still gave me a second chance to follow Him, not just as an ideal, but with all my heart.
I hope that the young man I talked to on the plane saw in me not just words, but a living witness of that joy that is not found in having everything, but in giving everything. The world will believe when they see in us the true joy of the Kingdom because of the consonance of our lives with the way of Christ. I pray for the grace to joyfully align myself every day with more integrity and generosity to the King of Peace.
During this Holy Week, may we accompany Jesus, without fear, to Mount Calvary and stand at the foot of the Cross with Mary and John, and the faithful women. Jesus is now glorious in the Eucharist, silently waiting for us to receive Him and adore Him, and in so doing, console His Sacred Heart, pierced for our offenses, wounded for our sins.
Sister Marta was born and raised in Managua, Nicaragua. Early in life she experienced an earthquake which claimed thousands of lives and destroyed her hometown. Later, political unrest, Communism, and persecution, especially of young people, caused her to migrate alone to the USA where she met new challenges. After a family tragedy and deeply affected by these adversities, Sister Marta began an inner search for answers to the mystery of life, suffering, truth, and the deepest yearnings of the human heart. She found the answer in Christ. By Divine Providence she met (and joined) the Secular Franciscans in Fresno, California, in 1994, and later, the Sister Disciples of the Divine Master where she discovered, with joy, an undeserved call to the consecrated life. Although a late vocation, she was admitted to the Congregation in 2000. Today, Sister Marta serves the Lord and His Church through her ministry at the Archdiocese of Boston.
