I Thirst

By Jaime B. in Uruguay

When I was assigned Uruguay, they told me that it is a very secular country, and that the people are not religious. In our neighborhood, one of the most difficult ones in Montevideo, I have found that people are in fact, in some way, religious. Many people are open to praying with us, they join us when we make pilgrimages, they are baptized, and they have a sense that they must do good. What I have seen is that despite all that, people are not going to church, and that is the thirst I feel. I thirst for people to know that Jesus is alive in the little piece of bread that is the Eucharist, for them to know that there is no better life than a life with Him, for them to know that Jesus wants to live within them, that with him by their side, their sufferings lighten and make sense. I thirst for them to feel the crazy love that God has for them, the crazy love he has for me, and for which I am here in Uruguay.

In recent days, I have interacted a lot with a neighbor of ours. He is retired, he is 68 years old. One Saturday, returning to our house, I greeted him from afar, and when I got closer I saw him crying. He said, “Excuse me, personal matters.” I didn’t know what to say to him, because after interacting with him several times, I didn’t expect to see him like that. I told him, “Don’t worry, be strong Jojo.” He asked about the priest who visits us regularly that Jojo knows, but unfortunately he had left a couple of days before. Jojo has told me that he does not believe in any religion, that he does not deal with religion or politics. With politics, I understand, I am a bit the same, but the fact that he asked me for the priest makes me think that deep down, he, like many of our friends, knows that there is something more in this life. I thirst to one day sit with my neighbor friend, old man Jojo, listening to mass and receiving Jesus during Holy Communion.