Promised Fulfilled

Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had said they would find him. There they met him and worshiped him - but some of them weren't sure it really was Jesus.

He told his disciples, "I have been given all authority in heaven and earth. Therefore go and make disciples in all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and then teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you; and be sure of this - that I am with you always, even to the end of the world." Matthew 28:16-20 (TLB)

Neri Ruth Gattinoni is from Chubut, Argentina. When Neri and her husband received an urgent message that her father was not doing well, they immediately bought plane tickets and flew to Buenos Aires. Two cousins met them upon arrival. Neri asked them which hospital her father was in, only to be told that he had died. As Neri tried to grasp the situation, the despair made it difficult to breathe, She thought, My father is gone! I have no idea how I will live without him.

She was with her mother when they arrived at the church for her father's funeral service. As they were walking in, Neri felt the warm touch of someone's hand on her arm. She turned, thinking it was her husband, but no one was there. Neri believes in her heart that it was Jesus Christ taking her by the arm, giving her strength for the coming days. She doesn't remember the rest of the time during the visitation, only that warm touch and the feeling of comfort, love, and support it gave her.

Each time she remembers that moment, Neri acknowledges the reality of today's scripture. The Lord fulfilled that promise to her and never left her side.

Prayer: Merciful God, when our spirits are crushed, remain with us and sustain us. Thank you for the constancy of your love, in Jesus' name. Amen.