From Glenmary's Founder's Day

The peak of the mountain broke through the clouds that hid it from our view. We were at the beginning of our ascent of some five miles, seemingly straight up, where we would end by scaling a glacier. There were 50 of us, with five adults and the rest teenagers. Throughout the ascent I felt many times we were not going to make it. We were tied in together because the slopes were so steep. We had to hide out beneath rocks because the winds were so strong. The adults had to almost yell at kids to keep them moving—for once we started there was no turning back. And then came the scaling of the glacier. We encountered not just one, but two avalanches. Kids were knocked down the mountain. Had they not been tied in they would have kept tumbling. Yet amidst the terrible struggle, we made it to the top. The view was our prize. It took my breath away and brought tears to many peoples’ eyes. It was nothing less than Heaven. Many would say we were nuts for going through what we did. But we knew that the outcome was worth the struggle.

Since Jesus’ command to go and make disciples of all nations countless people have heeded this call. Yet the journey has been far from easy for them. St. Paul talks of the activity as being nothing less than a repeated death. The martyrs we celebrate today had limbs cut off and fingers chewed off and fingers chewed by native people of this country. They were burned, beaten and starved. Even the founder of Glenmary had to undergo serious rejection, ridicule and suffering in his missionary activity. Yet there is no doubt in my mind, that they all would be able to say: the outcome was worth the struggle.

We find ourselves right in the midst of the epic struggle. For some of us we have traveled thousands of miles, leaving family, friends, and food— nothing less than all familiarity and comfort. We rode on planes that never seemed to land. We missed the death of loved ones so far away. For others here there has been rejection, isolation and nay saying from those who don't respect our role in the Church. And yet in the midst of our turmoil and suffering there are moments of grace where we can say just like Paul, that we are constantly being given up to death for the sake of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

We will walk out of this chapel tonight and find ourselves right in the midst of this very struggle. But there is a consistent witness of the missionary activity of the Church. And that witness says that despite the struggles we have faced or will face, despite whatever in life attempts to shatter our earthen vessels, that God assures us: those who sow in tears, will reap rejoicing!!