“For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” – 2 Corinthians 5:21
The mission will change you, if you allow it to change you.
And what I mean by that is, one cannot go back to their old ways when they have fully experienced Christ.
So during this year’s ICON in Ilocos Norte, Laoag, our Canadian delegation were given a challenge from our delegation heads to think of our most personal valued item that we brought on this trip …and give it away. Whether that was to give it away to someone in the same delegation, someone you just met or someone completely random. And already, I knew what the item was, and it broke my heart a little that i was called to give it away. It was my small wooden cross given to me by a sister I really look up to, and I always kept it with me wherever I go.
Side note: Before the trip I was even hesitant to bring it because I was afraid I might lose it..
So I ended up giving this cross to a sister in my Social Actions group. I felt I was called to give it to her from the way she openly and willingly shared about her crosses to me. At the moment I gave it to her, I was at peace. I was at peace knowing it’s in good hands.
Then surprisingly the next day, the same sister comes running to me in the morning before praisefest and says, “Ate Diane, this is for you” and hands me a rosary. Honestly, all I wanted to do at that moment was cry because of how good the Lord is.
I entrust my cross to Him through this sister and He offers His full self to me in a form of a rosary. Through this encounter, I am a witness of God’s faithfulness with faith being our solid ground. Our foundation. Our stronghold. And the beauty of faith is that it’s both personal and communal. Personal in a way that the Lord speaks to us in the way we understand best. Communal in a way that we are never journeying alone. We are journeying with one another. We are journeying with Christ. He gives His whole self to me, I cannot but give my whole self to Him.
Gracious God, You are so good to me. You never fail to remind me of how immensely loved I am. Allow me to be an instrument of Your endless love and mercy. Please grant me the strength to keep running, running to Your arms. Amen.
JMJ,
Diane Dimacali