There are some people who do not believe the existence of the intangible things in the world.
In the Philippines, the number of the Coronavirus patients has dramatically increased since the beginning of March 2020. That is why the President Rodrigo Duterte’s Government has imposed the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) over the entire Luzon area. However, the local situation is quite different now. Some cities in Luzon have decided their own strategies, which is the Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine while other cities stay with the ECQ. Everything depends on the number of the confirmed cases in their cities.
I live at Santa Rosa de Lima Parish in Cabangan, Zambales. This parish is under the Diocese of Iba. Many Columban missionary priests in the Philippines were here in the Diocese before me. I met Father John Arge who is my parish priest. Fr. John used to be a Columban seminarian but now is a diocesan priest. He invited me to work with him in his parish. I found him as a good, gentle, and kind priest.
One day, I received a message from one of the parishioners.
“Fr. Kwang-Kyu, Is Fr. John in the presbytery? I have tried to ring him, but he didn’t answer the phone.”
I replied, “He is not here. He went to Iba. Can I ask why?”
“Because of the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick,” she said. “One of my colleague’s father is in a critical condition. So, could you please come and anoint him?”
I asked her where I should go for the Anointing. I immediately left for his anoint.
When I arrived at his house, I saw an old man, who was in his 80’s. He was in severe pain. Even he looked as if he was having difficulty in breathing. It looked like he was in a critical condition. I thought he might be at the moment of death. I simply greeted the family members, and then I administered the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick. They were crying while I was anointing him.
Whenever I meet people who are dying, I always ask myself, ‘What is the meaning of life?” I become humble and experience the grace of God in them.
Before we finished the Sacrament, I asked all family members to recite ‘The Lord’s Prayer’ together. The old man, he was also praying with us. After we finished the prayer, we remained silent for a while. The house was filled with peace, and he was not having difficulty in his breathing anymore.
Then, I saw his granddaughter. I kindly asked her to pray for her grandfather who needed her prayer. And she promised me that she would. (A few days later, I heard that the old man passed away with a peaceful face after receiving the Sacrament.)
After finishing the Sacrament, I left the house and got in my car. Suddenly, I realized, ‘Oh, no! I didn’t wear a face mask. I touched his body. He may or may not have the Coronavirus.” Thereby, I put my hand sanitizer on my hands and grumbled about the situation.
Jesus ask to his disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” In reply, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God,” said Simon Peter (Matthew 16:15-16). Jesus then mentioned about his Passion. However, Peter was not able to accept it. Even he took his master aside and began to rebuke him, “God forbid, Lord! No such thing shall ever happen to you.” (22)
Suddenly this gospel came to my mind while I was grumbling and washing my hands. I felt a sense of shame and then, I was vacantly staring at the sky for a while.
At the ordination of the priesthood, I prostrated myself before the alter of the Lord. I prayed to God, “I am just a tool in your hands. So that I do not have any right to refuse all the Sacraments what I have been granted as a priest. No matter what, wherever the people of God ask me to administer your Sacraments to your beloved people, I would go there without fear and without condition.”
I think it is not a normal circumstance that is why I would not be severely criticized and bitterly denounced. However, even though I witnessed the grace of God with my own eyes, I came across a weak priest who was overworried about his own safety and comfort.
Many people sacrifice their lives for others. Through the sacrifices of many people, our lives can last. And then, Jesus reminds us of his resurrection through their sacrifices. The Lord is speaking to us, and he always turns our human weakness into strength.
“In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.” (John 16:33)
The Columbans are a society of missionaries, including priests and lay people, who minister to people of various cultures as a way of witnessing to the universal love of God.