What About Me?

What About Me?

Rhetorically speaking, this is not the same allude as Why me?  However, it does fit the pattern of finding oneself always at the bottom of recognition or being passed over when this person is more than qualified than all the others applying for the same position.  This certainly fits the criterion for most of us without understanding the reasons that are deeper than we can discern.  

We can apply the many obstacles that life seems to throw before us when after a lot of study, research, and sacrifice the bottom appears to just drop off and our outlook turns a little sour.  Our conclusion usually brings to mind that when our intent is to follow Christ in an upright fashion and we are passed over, God has another path he expects us to tread on which will fit our expertise and he has been waiting for us to reach that pinnacle of success.  

In a dream recently, many deacons were waiting to be called for some activity including myself and two other classmates, the last of the 1974 ordination class.  Each of my classmates were to be led in some manner into this activity, while I was at the bottom of the group with no one 

waiting to lead me as well.  It took someone within the group to say, “what about Ralph?”  I never questioned the scenario or was concerned that my name was almost overlooked.  It showed me that our Lord is always holding something for each of us, but only when the proper time according to him has arrived.  Throughout my years of ministry I have learned that what I was involved with at any point seemed to be the place I would remain in.  

Then, another avenue opened and the particular ministry ahead of me was even more rewarding and my gifts appeared to be where I was needed.  I experienced that more than once and each move was where I needed to be.  The Holy Spirit will be our travel director regarding where our talents will become opened and its as if the other activities were just preparing each of us to where we may be at the present moment.  

Before one of our present deacons at St. Michael the Archangel was ordained, I told him, “Don’t be surprised when the Holy Spirit asks you to move into a different ministry.”  In fact, we can always expect that to happen.  Look at the apostles, Paul. and even the deacon Philip being asked to reach out to the Ethiopian on the road that goes from Jerusalem to Gaza.  After explaining the scripture the servant was reading, Philip baptized him and suddenly was taken out of his sight.  (Acts 8: 26 - 40).  

For one year after ordination, I spent one night a week at Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh, visiting Catholic patients followed by a Communion Service and taking Holy Communion to those patients.  One night I was running late and on the ramp to the chapel I was passing a ward for women.  My intention was to by-pass it because of the time.  The Spirit told me to go into the room where there was just one woman.  When she saw me and I mentioned about bringing communion to her she broke down and cried telling me she was not allowed to receive the sacraments.  The story she related to me was a perfect example of how the Spirit works with us, and perhaps the very reason I was on duty that night.  She was the mother of seven children and almost died giving birth to her seventh child.  Her doctor suggested a tubal ligation and seeing she was Italian told her to talk to her priest.  The priest who was Italian as well told her if she went that way he would not allow her to ever receive Holy Communion.  She was in a dilemma since she was very fertile and she related to the priest, “If I die during pregnancy who will take care of my seven children?  The Church?  I told her I would send the chaplain for her confession, but if I got there first she was to receive the Eucharist.  The irony of all this, was she had been away from the sacraments for over 13 years and was to be discharged the next morning.  Putting all the criteria together, one more Catholic woman would now be complete with the Church.  

I have no doubt many deacons, priests, and catechists who may visit hospitals or meet parishioners at a crossroads in their faith how you may also bring back a misguided Catholic and can say I went after the lost sheep and carried it back to God.

What about Me?  What about you?

Ralph B. Hathaway