From the Mouths of Babes

Happy Thanksgiving!!

I have heard so many people over the years say that they liked this holiday the best because the focus is on gathering with family to share a meal. Thanksgiving is a time for reflection about all we have, and all that others don't have. It should remind us to share.

We recently held a confirmation retreat for 31 freshmen. At lunchtime we handed out envelopes at random which enabled the youth to sit at a 'rich' table, a family table, a sack lunch table, or, the 'poor' table. Even though some of the freshmen knew it was coming, it was difficult for those who sat on the floor staring at 'scraps', to watch the others dine well. Finally, when we had made our point, the poor were allowed to get desirable food from the soup kitchen. As I milled around readying for the next part of the retreat, one of the poor looked up while devouring his lunch, "I just knew you wouldn't really not feed them!"

Those words came to me during Thanksgiving mass this week. The student was from another parish, so I doubt that I will see him again, but his words will stay with me. "I just knew that you wouldn't really not feed them." How many times do I have the opportunity to feed others and I let that opportunity pass? I really felt quite unworthy of his confidence. But I have since used his words as a cattle prod so to speak ( a gentle one!).

In what ways are we ignoring the hungry? Those that are hungry not only for food, but for love, attention, and compassion? Those that are hungry to ask questions about their faith? about their world? about dissecting Scripture? Are we doing all we can to feed them? I have fallen victim to the idea that I can't do it. I certainly do not have the time, nor the qualifications to feed the hungry.

But I found a note I had written down while listening to a tribute to Tim Russert. The tribute told how inferior Tim had felt while walking through the halls of Congress with Senator Patrick Moynihan. All of the Ivy League grads intimidated him as he had come from a humble blue collar backround. When he spoke of this to the grand statesman, Senator Moynihan said, "Remember, what they know, you can learn. What you know, they can never learn."

I looked around at a packed church this morning and thought how much real experience was in that room. How many people in the world were being fed because of the people in that room! Out of respect for them, I realized even more that I was capable of feeding the hungry more and more each day. Even if it was in the tiniest portions.

That student believed in the goodness of those around him and more importantly, he spoke openly of it. I guess that that is what I will reflect on this Advent? To have confidence and believe in the goodness of those around me? And to speak openly about it? Not to be intimidated by the institution but instead love the church and serve its people?

Thanksgiving is indeed a feast!

Business Cards

A priest had the privilege of meeting Mother Teresa many times as he taught her contemplative sisters in the South Bronx. She once came up to him as he finished saying mass for her sisters in Harlem, grinning ear to ear, she said to him, "Father, have one of my business cards!" It simply said:


"The fruit of silence is prayer.
The fruit of prayer is faith.
The fruit of faith is love.
The fruit of love is service.
The fruit of service is peace!"


I would like to think that we have not been "burning the airwaves" of the blog lately because we needed silence for a time. And simply put, some of us now are enjoying the fruits of our labor!