Well, I’m back from vacation. My wife and I had a great two weeks with my brother from another mother in Florida. It was a very good two weeks to say the least. One of our extended family members had their first baby (congrats Nick and Bridget); one of them got engaged (congrats Kyle and Eden); one of them celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary (congrats John P and Anissa).
The quote this morning came from our first reading yesterday and I wanted to write about that – briefly – this morning before heading back into the office after being gone for so long. I heard three separate homilies on this yesterday – Bishop Barren’s, Msgr. Cronin’s and Msgr. Ramacciotti’s. They were three very different homilies but I found it rather interesting that they all mentioned this one point in each of their homilies. That point was when we are baptized, we are made Priest, Prophet and King. Put simply (by my understanding), as a Priest we are called to actively participate in our Faith; as Prophet we are called to witness our faith to others; as a King we are called to take ownership of our faith.
This morning, I want to act as Prophet and share with you a story as to how our Risen Lord still to this day remains active and answers (rather quickly) my (our) prayers. Coming home from Florida Saturday, the drive went rather smoothly until we hit traffic in Atlanta and then again in Chattanooga. Having stopped for our last tank of gas just outside of Nashville, we hit the road for the last stretch home. It was about 9:30 PM (having been in the car since 5:30 AM) when we hit Paducah and the skies opened up on us and it rained HARD. We kept forging ahead and about 11:30 PM, Sarah and I were both exhausted and tired of fighting the elements. We literally had no business driving in this weather. So we decided to pull off in Vienna, IL and get a room at a hotel just off the highway. As I sat in the parking lot, Sarah went in to get the room. 20 minutes later she came out after having had the person in front of her get the last room. Back out onto the road again. This time she called ahead to another hotel to try and book a room, but they were full also so we made the decision to keep driving. Not much further down the road, still raining very hard, the Holy Spirit inspired a thought in my head. I was reminded of the Gospel passage where the Apostles were out on the water and caught in a violent storm. Jesus came to them and settled the waters. That simple thought inspired me to pray that Jesus hop in the cab of the truck with us (it would have to be the back seat because Sarah is the official navigator who always rides shotgun). After saying that simple prayer, quietly and unannounced, Jesus did come to us and the rain slowed to a drizzle and within a few miles stopped completely. For the next two hours until we arrived safely at our home, we had no issues with the weather.
So in my prophet role this morning, I am here to tell you God is true to His promises. Ask and you shall receive; knock and the door will be opened. A simple thought; a simple prayer was all that was necessary for my fears – and my wife’s – to be alleviated and calmness restored. Praise be to the Holy Trinity – God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit – thank you for coming to me and providing our safe travel home.
Do something great for our Lord today – know that you as a baptized man or woman – are called to be Priest, Prophet and King. Take an active role in that ministry.
God’s will, not mine, be done.
Be not afraid; just have faith.
Jesus, I trust in You.
He must increase; I must decrease.
Lord, if You wish, You can make me clean.
But you man of God chose righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience and gentleness. Compete well for the faith.
Those with ears ought to hear…
St. Mary Magdalen Men of God 