Tommy and Greg sharing the Radiance of God’s love!

Fr. John Powell taught a course – The Theology of Faith. Tommy was the resident atheist – turning in his final exam asked, “Hey, Father, do you think that I will ever find God?”

 Fr. Powell said, “No!” 

“I thought that was the product you were pushing.” Powell, “Tommy, I am absolutely sure of  this, He will find you.”

A few years later Tommy walked into Fr. Powell’s office, he, (Tommy), was all flesh and bones, no hair from his chemotherapy.

Powell, “Are you sick? Are you dying?”  Tommy -  “Yes, I have a couple of weeks to a couple of months.”  Once in class you said “…it would be a pity to go out of this world without telling those you love that you love them…”

Tommy told his father and brother them he loved them – suddenly God was there.

And then the story of Greg Matthews who became a golf pro in 1956:

-       in 1970 lost his sight from diabetes, he continued to golf, scoring in the mid 80’s or lower.

-       In 1980 his right leg was amputated, he continued to play golf, now happy to break 100.

-       In 1996 he had a heart attack, he continued to golf.

-       On 12/11/98 he was hospitalized for numerous complications.

-       At his bedside were his wife, Jan, and his children Tim and Lisa, also Tim’s wife Lynn.

-       Greg was lying peacefully when all of a sudden he took off his oxygen mask looked up at his family and smiled.

-       He saw them for the 1^st. time in 28 years, asked his wife to kiss him – gave a deep sigh and went home to our Father in heaven. Tommy and Greg Matthews went home to God in the land of the living and one day each of us will make a similar trip.                         

 

Do you want Jesus to be the center of your life?  Think about the the story from St. Luke's Gospel that we heard a few weeks ago about the ten lepers Jesus cured.  

We can choose to go about our daily routines like the 9 lepers, or we can make Jesus the center of our life [like the Samaritan].

Reflect on these words, “In a humble listening Spirit, We would live to God’s delight…May our lives reflect the radiance of God’s new and glorious dawn.”

To live a life with Jesus we must listen to Him and conform our will to His.

If we do that, like the Samaritan, we will be filled with gratitude and our heart will rest in the Lord! 

Today choose to be like the Samaritan and go to Jesus with our hearts and our lives and put them in His loving care.

May God Be Praised!