A sower went out to sow....

When I worked as parish priest in the bushes of Papua, I used to travel for weeks to 1 month, in order to visit the communities. Some communities can be reached by motorcycles. Some other communities can only be reached by walking, through the jungle. Usually I walked for the whole day, from one community to another, then stayed there for several days, then traveled to another community.

At the beginning of my work, I used to bring many things, sleeping bag, mass kits, medicine, rice, salt, instant noodles, garlic, onions, etc. Everything is ready in my backpack. Once I reached the farthest community after walking several days. When the time for cooking came, without my consent, the people cooked all of my stock. Then they joined the meal happily. Imagine, it is very seldom for them to eat rice. Only at the next meal I realized that all of my stock was already consumed. After that, for two weeks I ate only boiled banana or patatas (sweet potato) or sago. That was quiet hard but I learned a lot from that incidence. Before the following travel, I informed them that I will not bring many things anymore. I told them, “I will eat what you eat. You eat sago, I will eat also sago. You eat patatas (sweet potato), I will eat also patatas. Just prepare what is necessary.”

I learned not only that I traveled lighter because I brought only what are necessary, but also became one of them. I am no more outsider, but part of them. That helps a lot my pastoral care. I live simpler, trust the Lord will provide through the people. Exactly I learned what the gospel saying is. Being Jesus follower, I must serve without guile, full of charity, and simplicity. I must give full attention to the proclamation of God’s kingdom and not be diverted by other lesser things. I must travel light -- only take what was essential and leave behind whatever would distract me -- in order to concentrate on the task of speaking the word of the God. I must do my work, not for what I can get out of it, but for what I can give freely to others, without expecting special privileges or reward. “Poverty of spirit” frees me from greed and preoccupation with possessions and makes ample room for God’s provision. The Lord wants his disciples to be dependent on him and not on themselves.