Every Sunday, we take the Eucharist to a few elderly people who have the desire to go to Mass but due to their age and health are unable to do so. So, what does God do? He goes to them!! We recently started taking the Communion to one of our friends Señora Leticia. While I was preparing the little table for the service, Señora Leticia, with a very concerned look on her face, asked me if I could pray for her son-in-law who lives in Spain and is sick. I was taken a little bit aback by this request since not many of the people I meet ask so directly for prayers. Thus, we started to offer up her son-in-law to God together. After reading the Gospel, Señora Leticia began to talk a bit reflecting on the Gospel, but quickly the conversation returned to her son-in-law. She told me how he’s basically paralyzed and has three little daughters, and how the family calls her saying that they have no money and need help. As she told me these things, she began to cry, showing me the desperation she feels. Señora Leticia is a very devout woman, but I could see her suffering of feeling helpless in only being able to offer her prayers for the family. Moved by her suffering, I moved closer and knelt down, trying to console her with my words, but I also felt helpless, only able to offer my promise to pray for her.

In the midst of this moment, I realized to myself, “Who am I, that this woman shares with me her pain? How blessed am I to be here in the midst of this pain!” We cried some more and prayed together. As I left, all I could do was promise to pray and do so. This humbling experience allowed me to see each moment of our mission really as a gift. Who am I that these people welcome me into their hearts, houses, and families. What a gift it is to be by their side celebrating birthdays, little visits, and sometimes also very painful ones. Compassion means sharing life together, the bad but also good. The beautiful, and also ugly.