“Christ is counting on you.” These simple words etched on the back of our Cursillo Cross convey a powerful truth: Jesus desires to use our gifts and talents to build His Kingdom here on Earth. While I was very familiar with these words since living my Cursillo Weekend in October of 2012 it was not until a life-changing experience in December of 2015 that the words took on a new depth of meaning...
Though I was originally ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of St. Paul-Minneapolis I have been sent to serve for a time in our Mission Parish of Jesucristo Resucitado in the country of Venezuela. The pastoral realities have been quite challenging but also tremendously enriching. One of the beautiful customs that I encountered was a series of early morning masses beginning on December 16th and going until December 24th. As a way to prepare for the birth of Christ our Venezuelan brothers and sisters wake up in the wee hours for nine days of masses called Aguinaldos at 5 a.m. It was positively inspiring to see hundreds of people gathered together praying, singing, clapping, and dancing for the glory of the Lord before the sun came up. On the sixth day of these festive masses, December 22nd of 2015 to be precise, a miraculous event happened -in addition to the Eucharist- that forever changed my life.
While driving through the barrios picking up members of the choir to sing for mass we were surprised by two gang members who had their guns drawn. They told us to give them our money, our cell phones, and whatever other valuables we had. After doing so the gang members were upset that there was only the equivalent of about thirty cents in American dollars. I explained that I was a Catholic priest and that we were on our way to celebrate an early morning mass. One of the gang members pointed his gun at my chest and said, “I don't care about any of that. Do you have anything else of value?” I told him that I had a simple cross hanging around my neck. He said, “Give it to me!” I took it and handed it to him. He grabbed the cross and put it in his pocket. He then flashed the gun at me and the choir member who was with me one final time and then ran off with his friend.
Shaken up from the experience we then drove to the next barrio to meet with a few other members of the choir. After a time of crying and praying one of the choir members said, “Padre, what do you want to do? We're already pretty late for the mass. Should we call ahead and cancel it? I'm sure the people would understand.” I turned to the choir member who was robbed with me and asked, “What would you prefer? Where would you feel safest?” Remarkably she said, “Let's go to celebrate the mass. The people have been waiting there.” Her response reminded me of the words “Christ is counting on you.”
So we all got into the pickup truck and drove on to the other barrio to celebrate the mass. It was one of the most powerful and healing experiences of prayer that I've ever had. We asked for God's Mercy on the gang members who robbed us and for their conversion. We prayed for all victims of crime and violence. We then prayed for greater peace and justice in Venezuela and all parts of the world.
After the Mass some children from the barrio wanted to hear more about what happened earlier that day. I shared with them that we were robbed at gunpoint by two gang members and they stole our money, our cell phones, and the cross that I was wearing. When I mentioned the cross I put my hand close to my neck and felt something there. I then pulled out the Cursillo Cross that had been stolen from me. Dumbfounded and staring at the cross the choir member who was with me asked, “How do you have that? I saw you give that to the gang member who ran away with it.” The only explanation is that it was miraculously returned to me. The words “Christ is counting on you” remind me that Jesus still has work for me to do this side of Heaven. Not only that, but the consoling reality that He is journeying with us, helping us to carry our crosses, and shining out in the world's lonely night with the radiant Light of His Love.
¡De colores!
Fr James Peterson
