Chances

Mary, Queen of Heaven and Earth

I had to pick a young man up at one of the centers in Modesto today and drive him to Stockton to pick up a U-Haul truck for a customer who had made a reservation. As is my custom, I was listening to Catholic Radio on my way to Modesto and my hearing isn’t what it used to be, so I had it on quite loud. When the kid got in the car, it was way too loud, so I turned it down. It would be impolite to be listening to the radio when I could be speaking to this new employee and teaching him something, I reasoned. I said, “I’m sorry, you probably don’t want to listen to this.” He replied, “Actually, I was going to ask you to turn it up. The conversation sounds interesting.” It was tuned to Catholic Answers Live, and they were discussing virtue and grace.

I asked him, “Are you Catholic?” To which he replied, “No, but I grew up standing next to my father, who played the organ at our Lutheran church every Sunday.” I said, “Oh, so close! Throw a couple of books back into the Bible, accept the authority of the Pope, and you’re in!” He laughed and said, “Yep! That’s me! ‘Catholic Lite’!”

He went on to tell me that he didn’t really practice the Lutheran faith, either, but was Lutheran “in name only”. He said the only organization that he ever really had anything to do with was the Boy Scouts. That started a totally different conversation. I think if we had more time, the conversation may have circled back around to the Church. Maybe next time! I felt Christ there with me and I was ready to try to answer any questions he may have had about finding the Truth.

After I dropped him off and got back in the car, I started listening to another program. The participants were talking about virtue and grace again! Or at least that’s the way I understood it. I think when I ask the Holy Spirit to guide my thoughts and actions each day He actually takes me seriously!

I often feel Christ standing next to me throughout the day, especially when things are a little tough, encouraging me to use my difficulty as a form of prayer. It makes it easier to work through the problem. I can imagine how hard it must be for those who don’t recognize Him. I don’t say it’s always been that way, but since I’ve been going to daily Mass, He’s a constant companion.

I got to thinking about people we know or who we are very close to who don’t appear to believe in God or Jesus Christ and may even be outspoken in their denial of Him. Are they denied the graces that God endows us all with? No. Everyone who has been baptized is given the graces to love and obey Him—they may simply choose not to acknowledge them, either through ignorance or hard-heartedness. Some of them may feel that Jesus has abandoned them. The cure might be just to stand next to them—after all, if He’s with us and won’t abandon us, surely He won’t hesitate to bestow His graces on those around us. And they will see Him working through the example of faith, hope and love we set as Christians which can certainly open their minds and hearts to accept Him on their own. Sometimes it takes years—but Our Lord is a patient and persistent Lord. All He wants is for everyone to come to Him.

And then there are those who want to go to Him, but can’t; those in hospitals and convalescent homes or homebound who can’t receive the Eucharist as often as they would like. I have decided, on the advice of someone I respect greatly, to speak to the priest this week to explore the possibility of becoming a Eucharistic Minister so I can take Jesus to those who need the presence of Christ the most. I’ll keep you posted.