Waiting for Patience

Do not be afraid. Open wide the doors for Christ. To his saving power open the boundaries of states, economic and political systems, the vast fields of culture, civilization, and development. Do not be afraid. Christ knows what is in man. He alone knows it.  So often today man does not know what is within him, in the depths of his mind and heart. So often he is uncertain about the meaning of his life on this earth. He is assailed by doubt, a doubt that turns into despair. We ask you therefore, we beg with humility and trust, let Christ speak to man. He alone has words of life-yes, of eternal life.  Homily for the Inaugration of his Pontificate October 22, 1978 Canonized a Saint in the Holy Roman Catholic Church on April 27, 2014 by Pope Francis John Paul II, pray for us!

As I was listening to the first Gospel at Mass this evening (yes, this the one time during the year we hear two Gospel readings), all I could think about what my experience as I entered Mukumary on Monday, March 10th. The very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road,  while others cut branches from the trees  and strewed them on the road. The crowds preceding him and those following kept crying out and saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David; blessed is the he who comes in the name of the Lord; hosanna in the highest.” Matthew 21:1-11 We had to drive there from Lodja (small city in the middle of the DRC we flew into) which is 145km south of Mukumary. Lodja is on the bottom right, Mukumary is the top of the map The car stopped in sort of the middle of nowhere (but seriously, it was the middle of nowhere)!  Father Emmanuel said, "It's time to get out, they want to welcome you." Some of the people gathered to walk me to the Church. They e...