11. White as virigin snow

During the night some snow fell and covered the ground. We dressed mum well and she was ready to go outside. It was just wonderful to see everything white and clean around us. It covered all dirt and imperfections. The coldness brought some colour into mum’s sallow face and a childlike delight to be a part of this idyllic scene.

We returned inside and mum changed her clothes. In her bedroom there was a huge, bronze crucifix. My grandmother rescued it after the Second World War when communists were knocking down chapels. For me as a child this was the holiest part in our home.

Mum looked at the crucifix and said, “It was painful.” Lately has she learned much about pain and was thankful for painkillers. She couldn’t help pouring out her thoughts, “Jesus suffered a great deal for us. He was rejected, humiliated and shed his holy blood for us. He suffered instead of us, but how can I know that His blood covers my debt completely. I was never able to tell the priest everything. Even on my way home from taking holy bread I would catch myself having sinful thoughts. It’s like spoiling virgin snow with dirty boots.”

Mum found great joy when we started reading the verses that give us the assurance that all our sins are covered. Through our faith in Jesus Christ we are justified not through human ability to keep ourselves sinless. Her favourite became:

John 3:16,17.

“16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

Romans 5:8-10

“8 But God demonstrated his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!

10 For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life.”

12. Reaching out in faith

My return home was coming closer. Dad and I did a big shopping and tried to organise things to keep them in order for a while. Opening God’s word gave mum peace and confidence more then anything else I could do for her.

Unparalleled life of Jesus has been a source of inspiration and amazement for humanity ever since. Reading the events from Jesus’ life was taking mum and me to the crowds that followed Him, listening to His words and witnessing His miracles.

Roman centurion recognised Jesus as the one having authority and power to heal his paralyzed and suffering servant. He respected Jewish tradition and didn’t expect Jesus to enter a home of a Gentile. He expressed his faith in an unconditional way:

“8 Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.

9 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.’

10 When Jesus heard this, he was astonished and said to those following him, ‘I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith…

13 Then Jesus said to the centurion, ‘Go! It will be done just as you believed it would.’ And his servant was healed at that very hour.” (NIV, Matthew 8: 5-13)

Mum being so sick I knew the question of healing was going to be asked sooner or later. People going on pilgrimages to holy places, looking for healers, is not only a biblical phenomena. Medjugorje, some 250 km from our home, is a popular destination for many Christian from Croatia and other countries; paying homage and going in faith, hoping for a solution to their life problems and healing.

It was easier for people in Jesus ‘time; they could talk to him, touch him. Like the woman bleeding for twelve years:

“21 She said to herself, ‘If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.’

22 Jesus turned and saw her. ‘Take heart, daughter,’ he said, ‘Your faith has healed you.’ And the woman was healed from that moment.” (NIV, Matthew 9:21-22)