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February 12, 2016
In 1916, during World War I at the horrendous Battle of the Somme in France, a German soldier wrote back to his parish priest, saying: “In my breast pocket I carry a picture of the Crucified. As Christ suffered, so must we.
“We must patiently bear the sufferings and difficulties of the war, and if our death is required of us, He will lead us to the heavenly resurrection.”
The soldier then wrote that he also carried a second picture, “a medallion of perpetual help” of our Blessed Mother. “In its protection I have often trusted in the big battle. It will protect me and lead me home. In the thunder of cannons, I felt so rightly the connection between God and man. Without our trust in the Lord God, man is nothing.”
Like this soldier, we should not expect that Jesus will shield us from suffering; rather we should expect that our weakness can become the occasion for experiencing the power of Jesus.
“Then our light shall break forth like the dawn, and our wound shall quickly be healed; our vindication shall go before, and the glory of the Lord shall be our rear guard. Then we shall call, and the Lord will answer, He will say: ‘Here I am!’”
Father Thomas Siconolfi, C.Ss.R.
Ephrata, Pa.
Scripture readings for today: Isaiah 58:1-9; Psalm 51; Matthew 9:14-15