Beaming with God's Love
by Fred Schaeffer, OFS

About twenty years ago, I attended an ordination of five transitional deacons to the Holy Priesthood. It was held at Epiphany Cathedral Parish in Venice, Florida, with the former bishop of that diocese, Bishop John J. Nevins, presiding. It was a glorious Liturgical feast and a true blessing for that diocese and its people, the faithful. It struck me with joy when the bishop instructed the newly ordained priests to be courageous and take a stand on complicated and controversial issues and to be kind to the people, to reflect God's love to them.

I think that is how we're all called to treat one another, with kindness. There is a relationship between kindness and taking a stand on difficult issues. For example, when someone tells one of us that he or she is pro-choice, do we stand up for the unborn in a kind but firm way, or, are we giving a pro-life and "pro-Christ" message with a certain harshness in our voices and manners? This is not merely speculation on my part, rather, it is from experience that I've found people are more willing to listen to a viewpoint they do not agree with, when the issue is presented with kindness rather than with brusqueness. We tell other people that we love and follow Jesus Christ because we are made in His image. That love must be obvious in our behavior toward other people.

I know many, many priests. I've known them as teachers, as mentors, novice-masters, advisors, confessors, as prayer-partners, as pastors, and yes, even as friends—and it would be very difficult for me to believe that priests, and deacons, are anything but kind—all beam with God's love and all show His compassion and mercy in dealing with the problems of our human conditions. I remember one young priest in the confessional some years ago; the joy on his face as he was talking with me was so evident. Could his joy have reflected Jesus' joy in forgiving a penitent whose love for Jesus was evident, too? I think so. Priests and deacons are eager to help their parishioners in the Name of Jesus, to give them more peace of mind, a little joy and deeper faith.

But priests are human and sometimes their "human condition", like ours, cries out for help, for love, too. Always affirm and support your clergy whether priests, deacons, religious brothers, or sisters. Their lives are spent for those they serve. They live a life of celibacy to be ready to minister to us whenever they are called upon. But how could we blame the priest (especially in a "one-priest" parish) when he answers the 35^th telephone call after dinner, when he'd more than likely be catching up on personal prayer or on tomorrow's homily, for being a tad impatient? Particularly since many of these so-called urgent calls can be handled by the office staff the following morning. Support your priests, not only the newly ordained but also the aging priest whose health isn't so great anymore but who never complains.

People hunger for some expression of God's love. That is the love our priests seek to convey to you—and thus they become the expression of God's love, as the "Alter Christus," the representative (literally, “the other Christ”) of Jesus. Ask for his blessing—and the blessing the priest gives you will come from God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Recently, I was talking with a friend, and was reminded to be kinder to other people. It is true, I hate to admit, there are times that I am “short” even with my friends. That isn’t right, of course. We should treat others with a gentle and courteous spirit, and I have a lot to learn. I’ll try ‘Beaming with God’s Love’, more often.

“As the Father sees in every person the features of his Son, the firstborn of many brothers and sisters, so the Secular Franciscans with a gentle and courteous spirit accept all people as a gift of the Lord and an image of Christ. A sense of community will make them joyful and ready to place themselves on an equal basis with all people, especially with the lowly for whom they shall strive to create conditions of life worthy of people redeemed by Christ.” (Rule of the Secular Franciscan Order, #13)

Fred Schaeffer, OFS

(bc67) rev. 11/19/2021

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