I had agreed to preach at the Golden Jubilee of a priest of one of my confreres. For a long time he had lived in a small village where he was very familiar with the people. He was suffering from health problems. After a long journey, I reached his house. Full of joy, he welcomed me: "How good that you came!" He quickly made me another coffee. Despite all the joy, I noticed his inner tension. "I can't really do such big things anymore! I don't have the resilience anymore!" he let me know. During the mass, I tried to be a living help to him. Then came the sermon. I shared some experiences of how Jesus shows us his wounds today in the wounds of humanity and wants to be loved in them. "This is what being a priest today is like, standing under the cross of the wounded humanity! And you have done it convincingly for 50 years!" I addressed the jubilarian at the end. When I sat down next to him again after the sermon, he leaned towards me and said: "Now I am completely calm and in peace!
