Growing up, my parents were great examples to me. My parents were both quietly faith-filled, taking us to Church, praying quietly on their own - my Mom with her rosary, my Dad with his Novena to St. Joseph. But their lives told me about Faith in Action. My Dad was a school psychologist, often working for free in the Catholic School system to counsel hurting students. My Mom was a dedicated English teacher, devoted to her students.
My father's sisters were so loving and close-knit and musical that my sisters and cousins and I would sing with them, doing the dishes at family parties. From these relatives, my cousins, sisters, and I learned what family and music are all about.
There are many good people who have shown me their faith by their actions.
Young, dedicated parents caring for and nurturing their children with special needs - autism, neurological and developmental disabilities, muscular dystrophy, brittle bone disease. The honored Professor of Theology, who has written internationally acclaimed books on Theology, but is one of the humblest most approachable people I know. The little wife decorated in tattoos who worked several jobs around the clock to care for her gravely ill husband. Senior citizens with severe arthritis and other bodily aches and pains filling and lifting bags of food at a food pantry. Women who were sexually abused or victims of domestic violence in their youth speaking out, witnessing, telling their stories so other women won't feel alone and will have the strength to go forward and change their lives. Friends who have endured the terrible loss of loved ones and have transformed their grief into action, embracing a Cause so others will live.
Priests who sit for hours at a dying parishioner's bedside, or go to hospitals at midnight to anoint the dying, or counsel addicts. Religious women (sisters) who care for prisoners, or released prisoners, or counsel people with mental and emotional problems.
These are people I know, people I remember, because they are people who love and don't count the cost. People I can spill my heart to and know they won't judge me. People who don't require that I wear a mask in their presence.
They are Jesus walking the roads today. Healing. Comforting. Forgiving.
St. Francis always urged his followers to walk the walk. People watch what we do more than they listen to what we say. "Preach the Gospel at all times, and when necessary, use words," he'd say. "The deeds you do may be the only sermon some person will hear today."
What lessons are we teaching through our actions? What particular Gospel are we preaching with our deeds? A Gospel people will embrace, or a Gospel people will reject?
I know that because of my human frailty, there are people I've known in my life who probably remember me for careless, painful things I've said and done. Surely they've seen the discrepancy between the "Christian words" I've spoken and the ways I've acted that showed I didn't believe the things I said. I've done my best to make peace with them and ask God for forgiveness. Sometimes I'll pray for anyone I may have hurt over the years.
Thank God our God is the God of Now, of New Beginnings. If every day we can do one good deed for another, say a few kind words, struggle with being faithful to our sacred responsibilities, we will continue to light candles in the darkness that surrounds us. St. Francis also said "All the darkness in the world cannot extinguish the light of a single candle."
know I don't have to be on my best behavior with.