Throughout the year, we present an article in the bulletin each week on a variety of topics, written by a member of our Parish staff on a rotating basis.
From the Coordinator of Inclusion, Diversity, & Equity
by Corey Shorter
This Cup
Can you remember a time when you were faced with a difficult task? You didn’t want to do it and you even tried to avoid it but to no avail. Surely, you could’ve tried to give the task to someone else, but it wouldn’t nearly been as effective unless you completed it yourself. When placed in difficult situations, some of us will go through some strange things. For example, some become really anxious, which can result in anxiety attacks, some can begin to panic, which can result in panic attacks, some may be fearful, restless, worried, stressed out, and a bunch of other things. One thing I found to be true is that typically wherever you experience pain, you discover your purpose!
I remember it was my senior year of college, and every year my college would host this business pitch competition for all of the campus to participate in. The pitch competition gave current students the opportunity to showcase their business ideas in front of a panel of judges, as well as college students and alumni (similar to the show “Shark Tank”). I remember applying for the pitch competition the previous year, but I wasn’t selected for further consideration. So this time, I went into the application process with no expectations, so a month passes by, and to be honest I forgot about it. I rationalized in my mind that I must’ve not been selected again. So when I received the call that I was a finalist, I was extremely excited.
Instantly, I’m given a list of instructions and requirements that I must abide by. I’m given weekly tasks to complete in order to remain eligible. I began to feel overwhelmed with all the work I had to complete – it felt as if I were taking another class. Time after time, I contemplated on dropping out because the work was too hard and it challenged me in a way I wasn’t use to, but I knew that I had my family, as well as my college (the St. Louis branch) depending on me. So against everything I felt, I stayed in the competition. This consisted of long days and long nights, but I had to believe that there was purpose behind this sacrifice. I did go on to compete and ultimately won 2nd place in the competition.
The story I shared was impactful, but I only had the weight of my family and the weight of my college on my shoulders. I couldn’t imagine having the weight of the world on my shoulders, but I know someone who did – his name is Jesus Christ.
In the Gospel of Luke, scripture says that Jesus asked God, “if you are willing, take this cup from me, yet not my will, but yours be done.”
The following scripture tells us that Jesus was in anguish and that he prayed so hard that he began to sweat blood. Against everything he physically wanted to do, he told God “it’s not my will but your will”. Jesus knew the pain that he would endure, but he knew on the other end of that pain was purpose. My story doesn’t remotely compare to what Jesus sacrificed on the cross. Not only did he win victory over death, but Jesus displayed the perfect definition of going through pain for a greater purpose!