Fifth Sunday Ordinary Time thoughts

"Share your bread with the hungry,
shelter the oppressed and the homeless;
clothe the naked when you see them,
and do not turn your back on your own."

This verse from the first reading from the prophet Isaiah in essence lays the groundwork for what the Church has known as the Corporal Works of Mercy.  I know I once had them memorized but my brain is not as sharp as it once was.  Therefore, I did what any sane individual would do - I "Googled" it.  I recognized feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, and giving alms to the poor.  Giving drink to the thirsty, visiting the sick, visiting prisoners, and burying the dead are the others.  It may come as a shock to many that these works are still very valid in the everyday life of human beings.  What do they do for us, though?

When did someone ever minister to you in one of these ways?

I had to think about that one about visiting prisoners.  I don't know that I ever have ministered AT a prison; however, several years ago, I was asked to see a parishioner at a mental health facility.  You say, "well that's visiting the sick."  Actually, it's very much like prison.  Security to get in to see a patient was almost like trying to get access to Fort Knox.  So in my opinion, I can say that I've done all of the works.  But why?  Is it because of my position in the Church - because that is what is expected of me?  I hope that isn't the reason I made time for these special moments of life.  I hope that is simply because the Holy Spirit told me to just go.

One instance early in my pastorate in Matteson, IL, I had just begun to get to know one family who turned out to be very special to me.  However, I didn't know them all to well when I received a phone call saying that the husband was in the hospital.  I was not driving in that direction at first, but that quickly changed.  I made it to the hospital to find that he was actually doing pretty well.  All of his family were there too.  Let me just say that our relationship changed dramatically that day.  From that day forward I was able to call him "Pop" with confidence.  With my father having died months before that experience, I know I have always needed to have a "father" in my life as I relied on dad for a lot over time.

But was that my reason for going?  No.  That was an outcome of listening to the Holy Spirit.  That is the second reading today "I came to you in weakness and fear and much trembling, and my message and my proclamation were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of Spirit and power, so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God."  It's the brilliance of the Holy Spirit that used His power to choreograph another instance in my life I would not have thought about.

When someone comes to you in need, do your best to obey God in the situation.  You never know what may come of it.