Sunday, March 21, 2010
At church today, two Gospel Readings from Lazarus struck me in a powerful new way, with a lot of hope.
“This Illness is not to end in death; rather it is for God’s Glory.”
My constant prayer through this whole ordeal has been that the journey leads me closer to God and that each day of life God gives me on earth, be it one day or 50 years, serves to give God glory.
Today, I visited Kent and his family, former parishioners from my days in Dupree, SD. Kent had cancer surgery and is in recovery. We mutually encouraged one another. It was fun to catch up with his family and find out what many of the people I remember and think about are up to.
Tonight, the local pastor invited me over to supper where a group of 10 priests gathered for their monthly time of fellowship and faith sharing. I so appreciated the welcome and camaraderie.
Priests, as a whole, are an interesting lot. The writer Tim Unsworth describes us as having the training of a doctor or lawyer, but walking the streets with people like a beat cop – being there with folks during the high and low points of their life.
The men I was with tonight had a passion for their work and people. The main topic of conversation when priests get together these days is wondering who in the next generation will hear the call as priests, brothers and sisters and continue on this fulfilling work.