I love mountains and so I spend most of my vacations in the mountains, both in winter and summer. There is no lack of mountains in the US, one is more beautiful and mystical than the next. Usually, I go to Oregon, Washington, or the Rockies. This fall with a group of 12 men, all married but me, I tried the Northern Cascades and Mt. Rainier. The last one, a volcano, is a real challenge as it majestically stands at 14,400 feet. It is covered by snow and many icefields. It takes a few days to climb there and requires some alpine training and determination. We had no ambition to reach its peak, just to reach a basic stony shelter that serves climbers as primitive accommodation before the next day’s attack for the peak. Nevertheless, to reach there one must ascend nearly 4700 feet (1430 m)! We began full of energy and enthusiasm. Approximately half the way up, as we entered the snowfield and rocks with no paths, our group of 13 dispersed to ascend alone or in twos and threes, and everyone tried to ascend at his own pace. At this point, I followed a group of three that were some distance ahead of me. When I finally caught up with them, I realized that only one of them, Chris, belonged to our group, the other two were students from Germany. Chris was exhausted and said to me: “We are turning back, aren’t we?” He was looking for confirmation of his decision as the two Germans already decided to turn back. I looked at them. They were in their thirties, strong and athletic. I answered Chris with a strong voice and without hesitation, “No, we do not return. We must go this way.” The Germans started descending, and I went up with Chris following me. We soon entered a huge snowfield and icefield that seemed to have no end. After an hour and a half, we finally reached the frozen stony shelter at Camp Muir – exhausted but very happy. In the shelter, I found four others from our group, and we waited together for the rest of the company. When Chris, who is ten years younger than me finally came into the shelter, he admitted to everyone that he managed to ascend up here only because of my encouragement and determination. He stated, “I did not resign only because of Father Mark,” and he repeated this statement several times.
This is exactly what I am called to do as a priest and pastor: to encourage those who are about to resign, who are on the edge, who are devastated, in despair, to say to them that they shall not give up. I am here to remind people that, although sometimes life is not easy, the cross is heavy, and the problems darken the horizon, there is a goal in this life. There is a final destination for us, and also, there is a way to reach it. The strength of this encouragement doesn’t originate from any particular strength of my character, from the specific choice of my words. nor my personal wisdom as such. The power of this encouragement comes from the words and wisdom of our Lord himself and the Gospel. Was it not Jesus who said to St. Peter the Apostle, “Strengthen your brothers”? Was it not St. Paul the Apostle who traveled from town to town and supported Christians in their faith? He wrote in the Second Letter to Timothy:
“. . . proclaim the word; be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient; convince, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching.” (2 Tm 4:2)
The ministry of “strengthening brothers and sisters” practiced by clergy members of the Church, is in fact the ministry and the duty of the entire Church. It is the Church that encourages and strengthens us on our way to the Father’s house Her teaching, which comes from Jesus’ teaching and is mandated to the Church, reminds us that it is worthy to be Christian. It is worthy to be honest, loving, merciful . . . even against all odds, against what the world is presenting to us. The Church is leading us surely to the destination, as the world in contrast leads us to the crevasses and precipices.
This is the reason why I love mountains so much. Not only that they are beautiful, with the views changing at every step, but above all, because they are making you stronger both physically, mentally, and spiritually when you have to face the challenges of daily life.
Fr. Mark Jurzyk
