Given the missionary challenges facing the Messengers of Justice (MOJ), we attended a workshop, “Integration Challenges facing Missionaries in Diocese of Bafang, Cameroon”, on the Tuesday after Easter. It was not just an intellectual harvest, but also a profoundly enriching spiritual event. After the workshop, we better understood our mission to the poor and marginalized.
Our founder prioritizes service to marginalized orphans and widows, whom we call “our Masters”, and the workshop offered us strategies to fulfill this calling. We learned that in serving them, we must not expect appreciation or consolation. Jesus went about doing good, but many of those he healed and fed were the first to castigate and mock him. (Matt 27:42) Although the poor and marginalized are the most difficult people to serve, we owe them unconditional love and service. We, therefore, come to both serve and to patiently bear their burdens, weaknesses, and fragility as a compassionate companion.
Jesus’ crucified love on the cross is our model for ministry to the orphans and widows. Jesus did not count our weaknesses, wickedness, and hatred for him when he compassionately died for us, carried our burdens, and even prayed for us saying, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). Likewise, we MOJ must not only “forgive” but “be forgiveness” so as to bring the peace that the world cannot give to the entire household of the marginalized poor widows and orphans.
We left the workshop fully engaged with Christ’s command to “do this in remembrance of me” as the Apostle Paul echoed in 1 Corinthians 11:24. By our participation in the body of Christ, his life becomes our life, and we become members of each other in the mission of carrying our cross of rejection and abandonment with Jesus, as he cried “Eli Eli lama Sabachthani” (Matt 27:46). As we share in the bread and wine, we participate in the body of Christ, which includes the poor and marginalized who need our understanding and unconditional services.
In Jesus and Mary,
Sr. Racheal Ulor
HEAL Treasurer