Mission Impossible

“Know that it is your mission to win souls for Me by prayer and sacrifice, and by encouraging them to trust in My mercy”. Divine Mercy in my soul # 1690

“Jesus summoned the Twelve and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them to proclaim the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick. He said to them, “Take nothing for the journey, neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money, and let no one take a second tunic.” Luke 9:1-3

Sounds like an impossible mission that Jesus gave the disciples. Go out with nothing to cure illness, cast out demons and proclaim the Kingdom. Don’t even take necessities. I think about this ask in my life and the theme of ‘Mission Impossible’ starts playing in my head. “Your mission, if you choose to accept it..”

I know that I even would like to plan what I say when I meet a soul along the way. But, again, even in this Jesus says to trust Him. “Do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you at that time; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.” Matthew 10:19-20

This is all about trust. The Lord is calling us to give up control, stop trying to plan everything and just trust in Him.

I would prefer if I have to go out, at least keep everything sunny and comfortable but that’s not reality. Sometimes our best mission field is in the storm and mud. I remember that night in the ICU a decade ago. Everyone had left to go home, I prayed, “Lord, my strength is fading, help me.” Shortly after a woman came in the waiting area. She said hi and we talked a bit. Her mother had fallen on some ice earlier and broken her hip and leg, she was struggling now. We talked about faith and prayed. As we prayed, a man walked in, glanced around and moved quickly to a side chair to curl up and go to sleep.

That night, my daughter went into respiratory failure and my faith broke. I was at the bottom, nothing more to grasp at in control. The next day, I saw the man come and go quickly and wordlessly throughout the day.

That evening while I was sitting in the darkened room, trying to understand everything of the past 24 hours, he walked into the room. He stopped by the vending machine, I got up and approached him. I said hi and introduced myself. He told me that his fiancé had been coming home from work the prior night, a drunk driver crossed from his lane and hit her car head on at 40+ MPH. She was in critical condition, he walked away unscathed.

Sitting her this morning, I see these verses flash through my soul remembering that moment. I had lost all control of my situation, I was fearful of what might come with my daughter who was on a ventilator. Like most Catholics, normally I would be more prone to say, “I’ll pray for you” and walk away. But, I heard myself saying, “can we pray together?” He nodded and I placed my hand on his shoulder. I prayed for his fiancé and for his strength. I could tell he was somewhat uncomfortable with the prayer but instead of pulling back, I went deeper. I prayed from the depths of me and tears flowed. I realize now it was the closeness of the Spirit that overfilled me and brought the tears.

When I woke the next morning, he was not in the room. I figured he must be in the ICU with his fiancé. But, I didn’t see him at other times through the day. That evening, while the nurse did his assessment of my daughter, I asked about the man. I asked the nurse about the woman who had been in the accident, and that I was concerned because I hadn’t seen him all day. The nurse gave me a confused look, and said that he couldn’t comment on other patients but that he had no recollection of a patient who fit that description nor of the man. He said though, that if wasn’t around now, we could assume the worst.

I left the room somewhat perplexed. But, realized that the Lord had given me a great gift. In my time of dire need and crisis, He sent an angel to guide and lead me. An angel to help me focus on another instead of lamenting about my woes. And, a chance to bring my faith back to the front in prayer. I wonder if that man was ever really there or if he truly was an angel of the Lord.

I didn’t prepare, didn’t take anything with me, I just in total trust, walked into the mission field.

Jesus calls us to trust Him and follow Him. He tell us that He can give us what we need. He can show us the next steps to take. He makes the yoke light and burden easy. He will provide the mission, course and words when the moment comes. He only asks us to take a step in faith and trust. And, to be ready to open our lips when the time comes to proclaim. He’ll even send His Spirit to give us the words to say.

Honestly, Lord, I’m not quite ready to ‘take nothing.’ How about this: I would like to take your hand and let you lead me!

“Through the Immaculata you can do all things, either in yourself or concerning others, since she refuses nothing to sinners, and Jesus can refuse nothing to her.” St. Maximillian Kolbe

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