He Entered Our Mess

It was the year 387, when Monica saw seventeen years of her fervent prayers in tears being answered. She was overwhelmed with joy upon seeing her wayward son Augustine getting baptized by Saint Ambrose in Milan. Soon, they left for Africa, where she fell ill due to the land journey. While in Ostia, Monica announced that she did not want to sail back to North Africa and instead preferred to remain in Ostia until her death. Her sons were surprised to learn their mother’s decision because they were hoping to take her back to her homeland. She told them she wanted them to remember her at the Lord’s altar, wherever they were. Through this statement, Monica made it clear that remembering her at the Mass was way more important than her burial location.  When Monica knew she was nearing her death, she revealed to Augustine: “Son, nothing in this world now affords me delight. I do not know what there is now left for me to do or why I am still here, all my hopes in this world being now fulfilled.” A few days later, she fell seriously ill, and her soul breathed the last. Respecting her wishes, Monica was buried in Ostia but soon her body was moved to a hidden crypt in Santa Aurea in the 6th century. Later, Saint Monica’s tomb was transferred to the Basilica of Sant'Agostino in Rome. Monica, the patron Saint of Mothers, truly believed that she would be close to her sons during the celebration of the Holy Eucharist. Her unwavering faith in Christ is a profound example that shows prayer without ceasing and hope without doubting shall bear fruit one day.

Do you know how to handle little things that drive you nuts? The other day, I misplaced my car keys when I was in my office building, which is a huge place. It has a large first floor with many side rooms, an enormous basement, and various offices upstairs. There were so many places my keys could have been since I went up and down the stairs all day long. Saying a quick prayer, I retraced my steps, trying to remember where I laid my keys down. After walking around for a while, I suddenly remembered where I might have put them and ran upstairs to one of the offices. Sure enough, there were my car keys. Thank you, Jesus! I find that there is always a lesson lurking in the day's events—if I stop and reflect. Just as parents are alert for and use ‘teaching moments’ to educate their kids, so, too, does God use teaching moments to form us. They are often small grievances, for example, driving all the way to the store and realizing you forgot your wallet. Or worse, getting to the checkout with your cart full of groceries before you realize you don’t have your wallet. Or locking your keys in your car—and worse, seeing that you also locked your cell phone in there! Seeking Fervently… These small events can cause frustration and anger, or we can choose to see them in the light of God's training and disciplining us. If we choose the second option, we can say: “Okay, Lord. I choose to praise You and thank You because Ephesians 5:20 says: ’Giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.’” When we lose our keys and are searching for them, we can say: “Thank You, Lord, for this trial of inconvenience.” As fervently as I am seeking for my keys, I want to fervently be seeking You. “Your face, Lord, do I seek.” (Psalm 27:8) If we can perceive God's loving hand in allowing these things to happen so that they can help train and discipline us, then we can smile and even laugh at daily annoyances. This is something that a priest taught me. Father Jack used to call his guardian angel ‘Laughing Boy’ because of these kinds of little mishaps. If he locked himself out of the car, missed a ride, or couldn't find a paper he needed, Father Jack would say: “Laughing Boy is at it again!” And he would chuckle. Father Jack had learned and taught us an important lesson–don’t take yourself too seriously. The ability to laugh at yourself and at the little grievances of the day helps to keep a smile on your face, and then you will radiate joy to those you meet. Remember, there is always a lesson. Take time to ponder and say: “Okay, God. Here I am. What are You trying to teach me in the events of this day?” Then look at how you responded. Did you learn something and grow in virtue, or did you react badly? Don't worry if you fail. There will be more pop quizzes tomorrow.

Last spring, the enthusiasm I felt about planting a vegetable garden was so great! I couldn’t wait for the right time to put those tiny plants into the dirt. When the time came, I had to decide what to plant. Last year and again this year, I decided to plant vegetables that could be used in preparing a salad. This included lettuce, tomatoes, green onions, radishes, and a variety of peppers. As my garden began giving us a variety of vegetables, my husband and I savored the taste of our fresh salads almost daily throughout the summer. I suppressed the thought of the season-ending and that the last harvest would be soon. It just wouldn’t be the same going to the grocery store and purchasing these very items that God had provided us all summer long. Instead, I decided to be grateful for His blessings. Much to my surprise and delight, the season's last tomato was heart-shaped! My mind drifted to God's love. This is certainly a gift to be shared. I took a few pictures of my gift from God and sent them to my family, simply saying: “Jesus loves you!” One dear friend told me that the tomato resembled the Sacred Heart of Jesus. She added that God can even use a tomato to tell us how much He loves us. I didn't want this beautiful and delicious tomato to spoil, so I eventually used it. As I write this story, I’m still overwhelmed by how much God loves me. Our Lord loves us in big ways, even through the smallest details of our lives, and even by using a heart-shaped tomato! He said: “The Kingdom of God is as if someone would scatter seed on the ground, and would sleep and rise night and day, and the seed would sprout and grow, he does not know how.” (Mark 4-26:27)

“Those who surrender to the service of the poor through the love of Christ will live like the grain of wheat that dies,” preached Romero in his last homily. During the time when Oscar Romero was appointed as the Archbishop of San Salvador in 1977, the country was suffering from a severe economic and political crisis. With the death of his friend Father Rutilio Grande by the paramilitaries, the Archbishop became an outspoken critic of the government. The prelate, during his trips abroad, exposed the human rights abuses prevailing in the country. When the military junta seized the country, he began a radio broadcast of his sermons, openly criticizing the government for torture and mass murders. The act gained him the sobriquet, ‘The voice of those without voices.’ In a sermon on 23rd March 1980, the Archbishop implored the soldiers to stop executing government orders and, as Christians, obey God’s orders instead. The next evening, Romero celebrated Mass in a small chapel at Hospital de la Divina Providencia, a Church-run hospital specializing in oncology. After delivering the sermon, as he moved to the center of the altar, a red car stopped before the chapel, and a gunman stepped out of the vehicle, firing two shots at the Archbishop. The bullets went straight through Romero’s heart, and he breathed his last at the altar. His legacy has since inspired Catholics and non-Catholics around the world to stand against human rights abuse and fight for peace and justice. During the canonization of Archbishop Oscar Arnulfo Romero in 2018, Pope Francis wore the same blood-stained belt that Romero wore when he was killed at the altar. The Catholic Church honors this heroic life as the Patron Saint of Persecuted Christians.