Many people ask me how I am doing and "what’s next" with my condition. For the time being nothing has changed. I am still paralyzed from the waist down. As you can see and hear I can function in the wheelchair and work as a pastor of the parish. I am very grateful to God that at least this I can do, not without an effort though. Simple activities of daily life, activities that usually people take for granted, cost me much more energy: dressing, getting out of bed, showering, preparing a meal, and of course moving from place to place—all this is hard work for me. But I know God is my strength and, as bishop Fulton J. Sheen used to say, "Life is worth living." So, my life is worth living and is even gratifying on many levels. I can see that despite my disability, or perhaps thanks to my condition, God does wonders in my life and in the lives of many people I encounter during my ministry and travels.
As for my medical prognosis, recently something came up as an opportunity to go for a treatment in Europe. Through a doctor in Chicago, I was connected with a Swiss medical institute in Europe that does stem cell treatments for people in various medical conditions, including spinal cord injuries. After the initial review of my case and a video conference I have been accepted to go for stem cells therapy in August of this year — all out of pocket expenses but much cheaper than in any of the U.S. clinics. Though the institute’s headquarters is based in Switzerland, the clinic I will be treated in is located in Belgrade, Serbia. Thus, I am going to leave on August 17th and come back to the States on August 27th. Since it is a rather long and difficult trip for me, I will be traveling with my sister and a doctor from Chicago, who arranged this treatment. Please pray for our safe journey and continue to pray for my healing.
In the context of this Sunday theme, let us remember that whatever we are looking for in this life will not be satisfied unless we come to Christ. Our Blessed Lord reminds the disciples of this truth while saying to them "Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you." Then Jesus goes on to explain that it was not Moses who did the miracle of feeding the Chosen Nation for forty years in the desert but it was God the Father whom now Jesus embodies and represent here on earth. Jesus assures us that it is He who is the heavenly food able to nourish us in all dimensions of our human functioning: "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst."
When we come to Jesus and believe in Him with our whole heart we will be satisfied. Those, who have discovered this truth and embraced it with the simplicity of a child can truly taste heaven on earth. When you next time receive Holy Communion remember that it is Christ you receive; in fact, you receive His Body and Blood, Soul, and Divinity so that you too may receive the fulness of life and be transformed into the holy ones of God.
Have a blessed week. Fr. Janusz Mocarski, pastor