Posted on 03/31/2017 8:29:47 PM PDT by NYer
I had woken up content and looking forward to celebrating Mass in the parish. I sprang from bed, eager to get ready and to arrive early for my appointment with Our Lord and his people.
Mass went beautifully.
At the end, some women approached me, “Father, could you hear our confessions?”
I said yes — there were only three of them — but after I’d finished hearing the confessions of the first three women, I saw more people had gotten in line, and then more and more … until three hours had passed. I was hungry, thirsty and ready for a break.
I started to head back to the seminary, content with the morning’s ministry, when another woman approached me. “You’re a priest, right? My father died yesterday and they are going to bury him today, but I haven’t been able to find a priest.”
The prayer that came to my mind was, “Lord, I see that you want me to work in your name today! I just ask that you give some peace to my stomach!”
I celebrated a Mass of Christian burial for the woman’s dad, and decided to take a taxi back to my house and finally get some breakfast, and perhaps even lie down for a bit. Though you might not realize it, celebrating two Masses and hearing three hours of confessions on an empty stomach isn’t that easy.
So with an almost childlike excitement, I readied to dig into my sandwich … and as if the world was suddenly in slow motion, a brother arrived to tell me: “They are looking for you. Father. The parish priest got sick and there’s no-one to celebrate the 1 p.m. Mass …”
My human frailty immediately began to protest and my thoughts turned in complaint to God. “But, Lord, you know that I haven’t even had breakfast! I’ll go, but afterward, give me a break … or better yet, send another priest!”
God never ceases to amaze me, because just as I finished complaining to him, I clearly felt his response: “On the day of your ordination, you told me that you offered yourself completely to me and to my people.
“Besides, go to this Mass. I have a surprise for you.”
I gobbled down my sandwich and went to celebrate another Mass, feeling, quite frankly, angry.
I went out of a sense of obligation and not because I felt any desire to go.
But as I entered the sacristy to vest, my anger started to calm down. A couple approached me and said, “Father, our daughter tried to kill herself a month ago and we have convinced her to come with us to Mass today. Please include her in your intentions.”
This must have been the surprise: God had sent me to this Mass to speak to this daughter of his who had such a great need for him. As a priest, you realize that there is no such thing as a coincidence. God himself directs our paths.
It was a marvelous moment of Providence because the Gospel of the day was just what the girl needed: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.”
As I celebrated the Mass, I was convinced that it was God who had placed me there — before beginning, I had prayed before the tabernacle, asking him to speak through me. I “reminded” him that I hadn’t had breakfast, and that I was a little angry …
And the Mass was overflowing with grace. I don’t know how to explain it, but it was Jesus himself who guided it. He was the one speaking while I gave the homily. They were his words — even today I can’t describe what happened — his words were words of comfort, of caresses, of fortitude, of encouragement.
After Mass had ended, the couple approached me again, this time with their daughter. She was crying and embraced me. “Father, I so desperately needed to hear everything you said. I need God’s help so much. I have distanced myself from him. Now I just want to place myself before him, and ask him to love me and to help me go forward …”
When this young woman embraced me, I felt God’s whisper: “I needed you in this Eucharist. This is why I had you come …”
I love Our Lord — how he finds his ways to get where people need him. This young woman who tried to kill herself is now a regular at the 1 p.m. Mass. God has changed her life.
And since that day, any time that I feel tired or angry because of the excess of work, I think, “Get going. Go to Mass and live it as if it were your first and last Mass. God needs you.”
And it seems that God answers me, “Be at peace. Go. I celebrate Mass in your place. Only lend me your hands and your mouth …”
Say a prayer today for the priest of your parish. Undoubtedly, he’s also gone to celebrate a Mass or two without having had breakfast, and even feeling a little angry …
Pray for priests, ping!
“On the day of your ordination, you told me that you offered yourself completely to me and to my people.”
- - - -
We lay people need to do the same. Offer yourself completely to Jesus, even if you occasionally have to miss breakfast.
What a beautiful story!
>“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.”<
.
And what should our reaction be when tears, a broken heart and a cry for help do not seem to have an affect on God?
Wish I had this priest’s faith in God and his conviction in God’s nearness.
I’m sure the priest feels very proud as a very good person, placing himself between the believer and God. /s
One of my favorite movies is DreamWorks “Joseph King of Dreams” especially since I am a bit more like Jonah. Grumpy and always wanting to head in the opposite direction. Next is “The Prince of Egypt” which happens...400 years later. yowza. I’ll pray with ya.
Yes, the silence of God...
you just sort of have to hang on and hope.... and remember even Jesus asked why God had forsaken him..
God Bless the hardworking parish priests.
Great story. Thanks. “I started to head back to the seminary...” I was praying with a family member last week and mentioned how Mary appeared to a priest in France in 710 and told him to say a mass. When the priest said, I don’t have a chasuble, Mary gave him one. It is still in the church. My family member smiled and said, “Jesus and Mary seem to know what we need at all times.” Probably true.
http://www.roman-catholic-saints.com/apparition-to-saint-bonet.html
bookmark
Not sure what you mean.
After the resurrection Jesus tells the apostles,”Peace be to you. As the Father hath sent me, I also send you.” When he had said this, he breathed on them; and he said to them: “Receive ye the Holy Ghost. Whose sins you shall forgive, they are forgiven them; and whose sins you shall retain, they are retained.” (John 20:21–23).
Thank you for posting!
Thanks for posting I enjoyed this
I pray for priests
Then I found out that there was a whole community of people who attended that Mass and now no day is satisfactory without that part of the day and that connection to Our Lord, his priest, and his people.
I highly recommend it for all of you!
Absolutely!
And there is nothing to stop any of us from doing that.
1 Corinthians 10:31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
There are those of us who are not priests who recognize that with God there is no such thing as coincidence.
It helps to read the article before posting.
A wonderful read. Full of promise for those who labor in His work.
“I’m sure the priest feels very proud as a very good person, placing himself between the believer and God. /s” - Cvengr
I was thinking more along the lines of inspired. If not, certainly inspirational, as the Lord used this instrument of His Will. Refreshingly so.
Oh how I understand. God hears and answers all prayers ... in His time, not ours. For decades, I prayed that my step father would be baptized. The older he grew, the more cynical he became about religion. Then, he awoke one morning and told my mother that he wanted to become a Catholic. She smiled but didn't take him seriously. he persisted, relating a dream he had in which he heard a voice calling him that he recognized as that of Christ. When mom called to tell me the news, I broke down in tears. A prayer that began more than 50 years earlier, had been answered.
2 years ago, at age 83, my dad was received into the Catholic Church. My daughter and I were his witnesses.
Never abandon prayer! Recall the Parable of the Persistent Widow in Luke 18:1-8.
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