“Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ on behalf of his body, which is the church” (Colossians 1:24)

The precious blood that Jesus Christ shed for us on the cross could definitely salvage all humans. Our only salvation is from Jesus Christ on the cross. However, everyone still needs to work towards one’s salvation redeemed by the Lord. God cannot help us if we choose not to repent or renew our hearts.

St. Paul was willing to suffer as a barter for the faithful who refused to put in the effort, so they can still receive the salvation from Jesus Christ.

This is the power of intercession prayers for people in need, which is also the meaning behind the communion of saints. When we are willing to offer our illness, suffering, fasting or prayers to God for the advantages of other people, they will definitely be benefited from it.

When I celebrated my first Mass in my parish thirty two years ago, a parishioner came forward to me and said, "I recite one rosary for you every day since I knew that you have been admitted into the seminary." Her saying to me aroused my memory that it had been fourteen years when I was being ordained as a priest. Without the prayers, I might have possibly lost my vocation.

Although God bestows each individual with different graces, the objective remains the same, which is to bear witness to God’s love and to know how to share it with others.