By Aurora de los Reyes
On Sunday, November 17, 2019, eighty men from different walks of life, all yearning to serve our Lord through the Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (EMHC) were installed for another year of service. Many of the Lay Ministers at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes have been in service for a long time. What makes them stay in the ministry?
Here is a wonderful story of Bro. Antonio (not his real name) who suffered a grave affliction that turned a state of helplessness into a sense of hopefulness. Here is his journey of faith.
This Bible verse has helped me through – Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek Him.”
In 2002, I was diagnosed to have a cyst in my liver and was advised to undergo biopsy. This was the scariest moment of my life. But being raised as a devout Catholic, I knew in my heart that God is the greatest Healer. It occurred to me that perhaps this was a test of my faith.
I prayed hard to Señor Jesus Nazareno and always carried a blessed violet handkerchief and a rosary in my pocket. Visits to the Adoration Chapel became more frequent. I was confined in the hospital for a biopsy until the time came to know the medical test results. My doctor announced great news: the cyst in my liver was benign!
That was the turning point. My faith in Him grew stronger. I resolved to give back to Him whatever I could. Truly there is a God who loves us! Believe that He is with us! Ask and you shall be given! Seek and you shall find! Knock and it will be opened! In moments when I feel downtrodden, He never fails to lift my spirits. Indeed, nothing is impossible with Him! For all that He blessed us with, it was now payback time.
My wife and I joined Couples for Christ. In 2004, a household member invited me to serve as lay minister. I gladly accepted. However I was occasionally confronted with moments of inner struggle, whether to serve or not. I think most of us in the EMHC undergo this constant pulling. When this happens, I kneel in prayer and remind myself that there should be no excuses to the Lord whom I have committed to serve – my Lord who is full of mercy and forgiveness. Immediately, that passion to serve consumes me once again.
As a lay minister, my most unforgettable experience was when I visited a sick parishioner to give communion. Seeing a dying person, the air thick with stench, the desperate conditions, were too much to bear. It was a pitiful sight! Despite this, my only thought was that she needed Jesus. She had to have Jesus!
Over time, some of my peers signified their interest to join me in the Ministry. It feels good that they too have committed to serve, and they experience the same fulfillment and joy. I constantly think there is more to do. Oftentimes, it became easy to extend my service to more than one Mass, I do not feel tired. Instead, there is a sense of contentment.
To my lay brothers: Our service is more of a sacrifice rather than an obligation. In moments of struggle, always keep in mind and say to yourselves that God must be first, and the rest, come second. Our Lord Jesus said, “Can you be with Me even for just an hour?”
To future lay brothers: There is a feeling of joy, of lightness when you give service to God by giving Jesus to those who believe. You will notice how they walk. Their eyes and their faces have a glow of hope and love that
#NSOLLPH
