From death into life

An old lady went to a tombstone-cutter’s office to order a stone for her husband’s grave.  After explaining that all she wanted was a small one with no frills, she told him to put the words, “To My Husband” in a suitable place.  When the stone was delivered, she saw, to her horror, this inscription: “To My Husband – In a Suitable Place.”

                Every married couple, at times, jokes about this.  Though the death of a loved one is often joked about, when it happens, it is very tragic.  In the past two weeks, I have had the privilege to share this with 4 different families: and yes you read that correctly, I said privilege.  Death is the one thing in life, which is inevitable.  We may get the car we always wanted, we may not get the job we had hoped for, we may not take the path we dreamed of; but, from the day we are born one this is sure.  We are going to die.  “By the sweat of your face you will earn your food, until you return to the ground, as you were taken from it. For dust you are, and to dust you shall return” (Genesis 3:19).

                The comfort, that we are offered, is that we will all meet again, one day, with the Lord.  (Pending we stick to those 10 simple rules).  After our years of struggles, or tests, trials and tribulations, the Lord calls us, to “Come apart by yourselves, and rest a-while.”  We are welcomed with open arms, after a long journey.  Though death does not always make sense (The child with cancer, that goes before their time, of the young adult, that gets struck by a drunk driver,) they all serve a purpose.  We are granted such little time, on earth.  Though the passing of a friend, or loved one, may not make sense, their purpose has been served; they may have changed someone’s life, or touched them in a certain way, or even given someone else purpose to change someone else’s life.

                We are asked to put service, above ourselves; to leave behind our belongings, and follow our hearts.  For the past two weeks, we have been asked to leave everything behind, and to follow the Lord.  In the end, we cannot take it with us anyway.

In verdant pastures he gives me repose

On a cold rainy night, the telephone rang in the home of a doctor.  The caller identified himself, and said that his wife needed urgent medical attention.  The Doctor was understanding, and said that he was willing to come and attend to her needs, but explained that his car was being repaired and asked the man to come and pick him up.  The man angrily responded, “What! In this weather?!”

The modern family has a hard time finding the time they spend together.  Sports have become an integral part of our lives.  Little Timmy could have baseball one night, Boy Scouts the next, and what about his brothers and sisters.  Where does the family find time to eat together?  There has been a movement, made popular by the Food Network, called “around the family table.”  They are asking for families to get together once a week for a family meal.  Once a week!  Have we gotten so busy that we cannot eat together as a family?  Have activities taken over our lives?  And the most important question, where does God fit into all of this?

Since the Economy crash, of 2008, and the subsequent years of struggle, has led many people to turn back to God, and ask for help.  But what are we doing to help God?  Churches are having to let go staff members, vocations are way down (the average age of a nun is 69), financial donation are down,  and Sunday school is more of a hassle, than the priority that it used to be.  Like the many, in the story above, we ask God to help us in need, but are we willing to brave the storm for God?

We have been given so much, why not return the favor?  Take a drive out, and meet God.  Find him in everyday things, or spend a few minutes a day thanking him.  You will be amazed at the peace, happiness, and even windfalls that will come your way.  Remember, “If you don’t feel close to God, guess who moved.”  He is there waiting, as always, with open arms.  Place you trust in God, he will never lead you astray.  “The will of God will never take you, where the grace of God will not protect you.”

Consubstantial with the Father

I witnessed an amazing thing the other day.  A Friar had passed away suddenly, and they held his funeral, at his home parish.  Why, you may ask?  Let me see if I can explain it.

            This man lived his life simply.  He followed the vows of the order, poverty, chastity, and obedience.  This was a man that was the most humble that I have ever met.  He didn’t want accolades, he didn’t want his name called, he didn’t want a thank you.  He wanted to thank God, for being able to help.  He found God in everything, from his fish tanks, to birds, to his plants, at home, and the parish.  He spent hours taking care of Gods creatures, young, and old, human, and animal alike.

            I went to this viewing, partly out of obligation.  I had not really spent a lot of time with him while I was in High School, where he served as a guidance counselor.  I had really only seen him a handful of times, since I graduated ten years ago; but something inside me told me I should go, that I should see this.  So I put on a dress shirt, hopped in my car, and drove to Rosedale.  What I found there was amazing.

            There must have been 400 people in the church, if not more.  Here is a man that never would have believed it.  Hundreds of people came out to say goodbye.  People that had not seen him in years: people that had not spoken to him more then once or twice.  This man had touched their lives.  As I stood outside of the church, in the line that was formed to get in the church, I could do nothing but smile.  This Friar gave his life to God, and Gods work, and in the end God showed us how many lives, one soul can touch. 

            Eternal rest grant unto him, o’ Lord, and let Perpetual Light shine upon him!

The journey of 40 days, begins with one step...

Many of us sacrifice like the little girl who, after hearing a Lenten sermon on sacrifice, decided to give up something for this special religious season.  Her mother said “you know, it should be something that you really like.”  The little girl thought for a moment and then said, with a twinkle in her eye, “Well, Mom, I guess it will have to be Sunday School, ‘cause I like that better than anything else.”

            With the start of this Lenten season, what are we going to give up?  There are many loop holes to this practice, which many of us use.  If you are over 65 or not yet confirmed, you do not have to do this.  Also, if you count the days between today, and the start of the Triduum, there are more then 40 days.  The reason for this is that Sundays do not count in Lent.  Sunday is the day of rest, so whatever you give up for Lent, you can have on Sundays.

            I wish I would have known all of this when I could have taken advantage of it, alas, I have been confirmed, and 65 is a long way off.  I read something on Shrove Tuesday, this year.  If he reads this, he will know it is from him.  Jesus didn’t leave the desert on Sundays to have candy.  Does it seem fair to give up something for 6 days?  Is that really that heard.  Jesus spent 40 days, in a desert, preparing for the coming of the trials of Good Friday, and the Joy of Easter.  In this period of Lent, can we sacrifice, just a little bit, to get us right.  Maybe you don’t give something up. Maybe you try praying.  That Rosary is pretty, but it does have a use.  Don’t know how to pray?  Ask God to help you.  Guess what? You just prayed.      

Listen for Gods voice, meditate, volunteer, feed the hungry, donate to a charity, read to a sick person, visit the elderly, write a letter to the troops, or God forbid, even go to church.  Remember, “Anything that you did for the lesser of my children, you did for me.”  You never know, you may just feel a little bit better, at the end of this Lenten season.