Wednesday of Holy Week
R. Lord, in your great love, answer me.
Written by Malcolm MacDonald
When I was in my early twenties, I felt a strong pull and desire from the Lord to become a missionary and travel the states proclaiming the name of Jesus. I was filled with a sense of awe excitement, and zeal as I left the adoration chapel where I heard that call in the depths of my heart.
After arriving back home, I told my family what I was deciding to do. It wasn’t received well. They wanted me to stay home and take care of the family instead of leaving to serve as a missionary disciple. With this choice laid before me, and zeal for choosing to follow Jesus, I told them I was choosing to leave and join the ministry. My family members were filled with anger towards me as they shouted out that I was abandoning the family for doing something selfish for myself. As this was being drawn out, I had a strong image of the cross on calvary in my mind.
Whoa. Jesus was with me.
“Jesus, help me!,” as my heart croaked in pain. I could feel the gentle breeze of his love wrap around me as a sturdy peace was instilled within me. I knew in that moment Jesus would not abandon me. I felt strong in his love.
As I look back on this moment years ago, I am reminded that God is close with us in our own suffering. Jesus was spit on, mocked, betrayed by his close friends and still did not stop staying united to the Father. I have no doubt in my mind that the responsorial psalm today was close to his heart and mind as Judas lied to him during the Last Supper, “I have become an outcast to my brothers…” I can imagine Jesus felt deeply wounded by his brother’s betrayal. Wounds cut deep to those we love most. But let’s remember that the psalms today do not end in agony! “I will praise the name of God in song, and I will glorify him with thanksgiving…you who seek God, may your hearts revive!” As the psalms cry out, there is no satisfaction, no consolation, no restoration, until we cry out for the Lord, “Lord, in your great love, answer me.” Although Jesus felt the wounds from those around him, he still loved until the very end on the cross.
When you are persecuted, insulted, mocked, rejected, betrayed, hurt by those around you, believe that God hears you and is close to you. Because of the resurrection we will celebrate this Sunday on Easter, our sufferings are no longer in vain; they are redeemed. We can now unite our sufferings to the cross. Look at him crucified and see the hope that he offers you!
What sufferings and wounds in your life do you need to bring to the Lord? What do you need to do to allow him to heal you today?
Malcolm MacDonald is a Youth & Young Adult Minister at Prince of Peace Catholic Community in Plano, TX. He has been working in the field of youth and young adult ministry for the past 9 years with various Catholic non-profit organizations including The Culture Project, Net Ministries, and other schools and parishes across the country. After a powerful encounter of Jesus in Eucharistic adoration at a Steubenville Conference during his freshman year in high school, Malcolm fell in love with our Lord and became increasingly involved in the work of the New Evangelization. When he isn’t in a youth ministry setting, you can find him brewing delicious cups of coffee, backpacking outdoors, exercising, or quoting The Office in his spare time. Follow Malcolm on Instagram.