Thanks Be To You

At first I considered perhaps having a blog-free Wednesday.  It was a rather busy day altogether yesterday, and each Tuesday evening my wife and I serve the children of our parish as catechists.  After finishing at the church and stopping by the grocery store for dinner and school lunches it was already nearly 10 p.m. when we arrived finally at home.  Still, there's never a Tuesday evening complaint.

Of all the things that I do, the least difficult, actually the most rewarding to my soul in many ways, is serving in a way that I know ministers to others.  It makes the late night not seem to be inconvenient in any way. I also feel that it's important to share this with others--to pour out my heart whenever I find the time to do so.  Thus, I share here with those of you who visit regularly, or who find me through various searches.  You see, for me it's all about sharing the greatest love that a human being can ever hope to know.

When we share from our souls we never know when someone might find our words to be just what was needed to get them through a difficult day.  Difficult days are often common.  It's the residue of original sin that makes work seem to be less than the joy that it should be.  I certainly have my less than perfect days, but I try not to despair or to lose hope when things don't go well.  The reality of life in the world can take on proportions that we never realized in our youth.  However, through it all I try to see a connection between the here and now and eternity.  Right now, this world is still my home, so I rejoice in the work that God has given me.  I trust in the master's great plan, and I offer thanks--it's still all about being in love with God.

Thanks be to you, my Lord Jesus Christ, for all the blessings and benefits which you have given me, for all the pains and insults you have borne for me.  O merciful friend, my Brother and Redeemer, may I know you more clearly, love you more dearly, and follow you more nearly, day by day, day by day.  Amen -- St. Richard of Chichester

Comments

[C]

Amen

[Gabrielle]

deacon dan, it's very true what you say about never knowing when your words, or what ones exactly, may be uplifting to someone. Even when I listen to a homily, I can't tell you how many times over the years my spirits have been lifted, my mind has been eased, perhaps just by a few words or a sentence. We can't always let the priest or the deacon know that, and in fact, we probably seldom do, but I do believe it happens all the time.

[Carol]

Once upon a parish, we had an exquisite homilist So good, we'd be utterly spellbound. Emmaus time, hearts burning.. we'd be so ready, then, for the Mass to continue bringing us Home. We were spoiled rotten by this, of course. We also had a priest who limped along consistently, but we'd wait, like little children, for that intake of breath that signaled the end of his homily, because right after his silent prayer then, he would say it, and we'd know he meant it: "God bless you."

All have different gifts..I can't remember any of the homilies, now, not even the ones that opened up vista after vista of light, except one. I guess it's not about being an homilist. It's about being a conduit.. it's about being that devoted person we want to help us out of this world when the time comes. And we are thankful.