Feast of Saint Josephine Bakhita

Today is the Feast Day of Saint Josephine Bakhita. Saint Josephine was a slave of African descent in the late 1800s. She was treated cruelly by the people who forced her to work for them. I don’t say owners. No human can truly own another. And then she found out the one to whom she really belonged: the Lord God who made her well and sees no partiality between races or nations. She was freed from forced service and then chose service in love as a religious sister in Italy. She forgave those who treated her cruelly, saying she would kiss their hands in gratitude: by her suffering and seeking solace, she found Christ. I was thinking the same this morning as I have continued to receive God’s healing love over the places of my wounding. I have not suffered the same cruelty as Saint Josephine, but I have not always been treated well. In former days, I was bitter at those people and questioning where God was. Now that I’m older in age and in faith, I certainly don’t wish to return to my suffering, but also rejoice that the suffering led me to Him. Let me also kiss the hands of those who harmed me because I gained such a treasure. Saint Josephine, pray for the blessing of those who beat us with their hands of their words that they would convert. Pray that we would forgive and find solace in Jesus.