When Jesus began his ministry he was about thirty years of age. // Luke 3:23
I’ll be honest, chemotherapy terrified me.
I knew I needed to prepare for it. So, I went out, bought a new notebook, labeled it my “chemo notebook,” and then sent out an email to my friends and relatives asking for intentions. I posted on social media, too, that I would be offering my chemo for any intentions that were sent to me.
And how they poured in!
Suddenly, I wasn’t alone. I had a mission. I wasn’t going to be isolated in my bathroom feeling sick and sorry for myself. Suddenly, I was surrounded by the legitimate suffering and need of friends, family, and even strangers. I scribbled every intention furiously in my notebook and began praying for them every day. In return, so many offered to pray for me too. This whole exercise strengthened me in ways I cannot fully express. And though chemo was brutal—some days all I could do was hold my notebook to my heart and ask the Holy Spirit to groan for me—it was also one of the most meaningful, most powerful experiences of my life.
It’s impossible to miss the importance of preparation in today’s Gospel. Luke wrote that “When Jesus began his ministry he was about thirty years of age” (Luke 3:23). We can be confident that in those long thirty years, Jesus wasn’t playing video games in Mary and Joseph’s basement. He was praying, preparing, and gathering His strength for the final test of Calvary.
When Jesus gives us a tough assignment, whatever it might be, let’s remember two things: One, if we can prepare, we should. And two, we can offer our suffering for the needs of others and, through it, achieve more good than we can imagine.
Do you have something to suffer coming up? How might you prepare for it? Can you invite the suffering of others into your own and join it all to the Cross? Try the Lord and see—when we offer our suffering to the Lord on behalf of others, Jesus won’t waste an ounce of it. He will use it all—for good.
Liz Kelly Stanchina is a jazz singer who met Jesus in late-night adoration. She is the community leader for women’s formation at the Word on Fire Institute and the author of more than a dozen award-winning books, including Jesus Approaches, Love Like a Saint, and the Blessed is She Advent devotional A Thrill of Hope. She holds advanced degrees in creative writing and Catholic studies. She is trained as a spiritual director, leading retreats and speaking around the world with a particular focus on helping women to flourish in their faith. Visit her website at LizK.org or follow her on Instagram at LizKToday.
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