Safety was a great challenge and counting on divine providence is one way to carry out the mission among the oppressed people. Yet, I know now that Jesus would walk the risky road.
Ever since the armed conflict started in Myanmar in 2022, I visited the displaced people and responded to their basic needs. I spent a few days with them. I juggled this with my other occupation in retreat ministry. I did this with companions. Sometimes, inevitably alone.
One evening, while driving home alone from my usual visit, I had an unsettling feeling. Having driven for a few hours, I was tired. The trip home was still long. The Sun was quickly disappearing in the horizon. I would soon be driving in a lonely and dark road. I felt anxious and complained to myself why I had to do it all alone.
At that very moment, another thought ran through my mind, “What do you think Jesus would do if he were here in this given socio-political situation?” This forced me to recall what Jesus did in the gospels. Jesus opted for the poor, defended the weak, fed the hungry, promoted peace and justice and so on. Stream of answers rushed through my mind. As I satiated these answers, it became clear to me that Jesus would do the very things I was doing.
With this conviction, I felt the warmth enveloping my entire being. All the weariness vanished. I knew I was beaming with smile while driving alone in that lonely and dark road. Home was still two-hour drive away; but, I was so consoled that it felt like I arrived home in no time. This experience helped me understand the experiences of the disciples who miraculously reached to their destined shore after being rejoined by Jesus in the boat.
Since then, this question remains deeply lodged in my mind: What would Jesus do if He were in my situation? This has become the source of my energy and motivation to keep reaching out to those in need.
Another memorable trip was when I travelled to preach a retreat. The travelling to that diocese became increasingly risky and long. What used to take me only 3 hours to drive would now take me one full day. I contacted friends at different sections of the road to inquire about safe passage at different military checkpoints. However, due to the fast change of the situation, I received no guarantee.
That day, a diocesan priest drove me to the venue where 45 priests were gathering for the annual retreat. We had covered a good distance when I got a call from a friend advising me not to proceed to my destination. Nonetheless, making a U-turn was not an option. I couldn’t be late to that designated place. So, I said to God, “I am heading to guide a retreat for your beloved priests, protect us throughout the journey, please.”
We kept on driving. Just as we were wondering how to get through the most notorious checkpoint, then came a Buddhist monk who confidently offered to take us through; for he was familiar with those militia at that checkpoint. It was truly providential! We could not thank him enough. He happily acknowledged that he felt obliged to assist us.
However, we had yet to cross a lake where the boatmen had previously been targeted by the military sniper. At the request of this same monk, a boatman anxiously took us across. We eventually made it to our destination that evening. Indeed, where the trip was risky, God’s providence was our safety.
