A Tale of Two Cities

Last weekend my ministry called me to two events both focused on vocations. The first was in Newark, NJ where evening Mass was celebrated by Bishop Myer at the Cathedral followed by a reception. The following morning I was going in another direction (to my home diocese-Brooklyn) to Our Lady of Hope in Middle Village, NY for another beautiful Mass celebrated by Bishop DiMarzio followed by a reception. Both events were lovely. Present at each reception were representatives from various religious orders and diocesan priests and people of all ages and cultures came to look at the displays and partake in refreshments. It was wonderful to talk to the older people who told stories about priests, sisters and/or brothers and the positive influence they had on their lives. For the younger folks, it was a chance to ask questions, find out what sisters, brothers, priests and deacons really do and where they serve. Some were straight forward, others a bit shy but in each (whether in Newark or Middle Village) had one thing in common - they were looking for a deeper understanding of this vocational choice.
As the weekend drew to an all too quick conclusion, I began to reflect on those who attended and I thought of the approaches they took to gathering their info. I guess you could call them the "seekers" and the "sneakers"! Each had a yearning to discover God's plan for their lives. The seekers were more direct and straightforward in their approach. The "sneakers" seemed to tiptoe around the subject a bit more not wanting to reveal their hand so to speak either to the representatives or God and should someone broach the subject to them were ready to move away from the table politely but quickly!
I reflected upon my own journey at that age and thought I was definitely a "sneaker". Oh yes, I felt God's call, God's nudge so to speak but I did not want to be so direct as to ask a sister or priest what I should do.....I would go through those "nun" catalogs with my girlfriend Jackie and we'd make comments about the funny veils or dress that sisters wore but it took a long time for me to reveal that I might like to be one of them! I told God that He was barking up the wrong tree and there were plenty of other girls who'd love to answer the call. I had my "sneakers" on and both physically and spiritually was ready to run in the other direction!
But.....God had other plans and would not give up on me! Eventually, the nudges became stronger and I yearned to deepen that relationship God had been nurturing so lovingly. Yes, it was time to take off the sneakers and begin to walk the journey unshod for I knew I was now walking on holy ground.

Believing and Be-living

On a beautiful sunny Saturday morning, I recently attended a high school youth conference at which the keynote speaker asked a simple question: "Who do you believe in?". With great enthusiasm the group responded: "Jesus!" He continued to ask the question over and over directing it to one side of the auditorium or the other and each time the response got louder and even more enthusiastic than my elder ears could imagine possible as each side of the aisle tried to outdo the other. Then, after the last exchange he challenged them with this simple phrase: "Well, if you say you believin' - you better be-living!". Silence pervaded as the depth of the statement sank in among the youth and adults alike. How easy it is to say I believe and how difficult at time to truly be-living what Jesus calls us to in life. As I looked around at the over 300 teens who had made the journey from all over the NY area to be here early on this Saturday morning-I thought of myself at that age and wondered if I would have been there. I also thought of myself and how I grumped around the kitchen earlier that morning, trying to get a sufficient infusion of caffeine, and thinking: " Why am I doing this so early on a Saturday? I'd love to go back to bed!" Then I looked around again at those youthful faces filled with enthusiam and love for Jesus and I knew why I was there - to see a future for our Church and society - a future filled with hope. As they day went on small and large group presentations continued and the energy level never diminished. As we concluded with Eucharist we sang "We Are The Body of Christ" and the voices of women, men, young, old, black, white, rich, poor , religious and laity were truly a physical expression of our mystical union in Christ. Heading back home I could not help but pray, Lord help my beleiving and may all my be-living be done in You! Amen!