Back in 2008, I returned to my parents’ house for a bit. About a week after I got back, my mother started to have sever pains in her neck. A week later, and the pain had become almost debilitating. We went to the hospital and the tests revealed the awful news: the breast cancer had returned and had metastasized to her bones. Her spinal column, ribs, pelvis, even part of her skull were filled with the cancer.
My mom was trying to handle the situation, and wrestling with the reality, the doubts and fears. After we came home one time, she was sitting on the sofa in our living room. She looked at me in the eye and said, “Will you be with me the whole way?” I stepped toward her, and said “Yes!”
She needed someone strong, who was going to be with her the whole way.
Not long afterwards, she slipped and slipped to the point where she lost consciousness. The doctors found the cancer had spread even more, and the prognosis was about a week, a month.
But then, day by day, things got better. And better. And better. She ended up having a miraculous recovery. We entered back into the hospital a month later to greetings and hugs. The doctors were amazed, she was the postergirl for cancer success.
It didn’t stop there. She had the chance to reconcile with neighbors and friends from the past, and be a real catylyst for bringing people together. And she gave money at the end of her life that help to build a church in Ecuador.
At the end of her life, she collapsed into my arms and died as we were taking her to the hospital. My last words to my Mom were, “Ma, I got you!” She needed someone strong with her, to be with her all the way. And she did amazing things in those days.
When you’ve left your family and career and everything you own to follow a Messiah figure who’s about to disappear, the prognosis isn’t good. That’s the situation that the disciples find themselves in. But Jesus has the words to give them: All power in heaven and on earth is given to me … I am with you always, even to the end of the world.” Those 11 disciples are going to recover when they receive the Holy Spirit. Then, they are going to do miracles. They are going to be the centers of reconciliation for thousands and thousands of people. They are going to build the Catholic Church, the church that has about a billion people right now throughout the whole world. And at the end of it all they will die in the arms of Jesus and be recognized by everyone as saints. They did great things!
Because they had someone who was strong, someone who was always with them.
We all know that life has some serious challenges laid out for us. And then there’s death waiting at the end. But whenever you start to doubt or fear or hesitate about embracing the challenges, or worry about disease or death, remember the words of Jesus. You have someone who has all the power in heaven and earth, someone who is always with you.
You are going to do great things.
“All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.
And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” (Mt 28:18-20)
ALM 