When is Enough not Enough?

When is Enough not Enough?

Let’s begin with the mystery of human contention towards the Church.  I know more than one obstruction to forgiveness where that word cannot exist.  To say it cannot become a clear possibility does not deny its reality, but with the results of anger towards some priests for sexual molestation on innocent boys the term must find a new manner of overcoming this evil.  As soon as the Attorney General of PA, Josh Shapiro, listed the hundreds of priests in Pittsburgh who were guilty of pedophilia,, my heart felt affected.  As I read the list the names of a number of them brought tears to my eyes.  I worked with several of them in parishes, and there were a couple from my home parish, St. James in Wilkinsburg, PA.  To say that I was shocked is an understatement.  

What is worse, I have discovered a few victims whom I know in one way or another.  When these names crossed my path I asked the Lord how would he guide me to intervene in these cases without embarrassing the families and the very victims as well?  It would be easy to avoid the probability of getting involved but that is not what the Lord has in mind for me.  Looking back I can see that part of my ministry, and perhaps all of it, was already planned.  I am reminded of what the Lord said when confronting Jerimiah:  “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you.”  (Jer 1: 5).  I have alluded to this scripture many times when making a point.  Do not believe that the Lord will not do the same in 2024 as well?

Here is a ministry that the Holy Spirit is already planning for my attack on this evil in a manner of stealth with the direction unrevealed to me.  Throughout my 50 years as a deacon I have heard his voice directing my footsteps in various situations that without my answering the call would have had disastrous spiritual results for one or more persons.  My education in this exercise of obeying the Lord has awakened me to what I was called to do via Holy Orders.  

I am not at liberty to reveal whom or in what capacity they live but, to be sure these exist and I am already in the midst of listening to how he is placing the steps of answering their cry for help from these few without any semblance or knowledge from them.  But a few questions or invitations to visit resounds with the call from them as well.  If I had not been ordained several instances in the past I may not have had any idea of this need the Spirit is presenting me with.  There is no doubt that once any of us responds to the call to ministry we must be prepared to follow a road that will not be easy.  One of the newer deacons at our parish was coming out of Mass before his ordination, and my advice was;  “Do not be surprised at what the Holy Spirit calls you to do.”  I’ve seen that in other ministers and experienced it in my own ministry as well.  

If any of you feel called to a bittersweet problem where personal connections are involved, seek the Holy Spirit through deep contemplative prayer to assure yourself that you will trust the Lord and let him be the guide of your heart and guts to see it through.

St. Paul needed this in spite of his mistreatments and disbelief at times.  Jonah was another who refused to go to Nineveh and the rest is history.  Even Jesus, sweating drops of blood just prior to his arrest prayed, asking his Father to change his impending passion.  He didn’t hear the words of his Son in a way to forgo our redemption.  My mission is written in stone, but only the Holy Spirit knows how and when my direction to my own Niineveh will take place.

Ralph B. Hathaway