September 2016
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show-up the Scribes and Pharisees? No. Of course not. Jesus healed the man because he needed healing and Jesus
could give it. He healed the man because Jesus was filled with compassion. He wanted to give the man an opportunity
to work, to provide for his family and himself. Still, it was the Sabbath. Couldn’t Jesus have waited a day? Once
again, the answer is no. Jesus was teaching us a lesson. Never say “tomorrow.” When we have an opportunity to loving serve, perhaps heal someone, do it. Right now!
Here’s an adaptation of an ancient fable. Brother Benedict was celebrating his 94nd birthday. He gave thanks
to God for giving him much time and many graces to serve his spiritual brothers and sisters. There was, though, a
touch of sadness in Brother Benedict. For 80 years he had prayed that God would allow his son, Jesus, to visit him.
Every birthday, Brother Benedict would intensify his request. That morning, he had spent two hours on his knees begging for the favor of a vision. Brother knew his health was rapidly failing. There probably would not be a 95th birthday.
It was after dinner. It was time to say his evening prayers. Brother Benedict went to the chapel. No sooner had
he knelt, Jesus appeared. Brother whispered, “My Lord and my God.” Jesus said, “My brother Benedict, I have come
to give you a great piece of wisdom.” At that moment, a bell rang, signaling someone in need was at the front gate of
the monastery. Brother Benedict was in a quandary. Should he answer the bell? After all, the Son of God was before
him, fulfilling 80 years of prayers and hope. Brother Benedict looked at Jesus with great love. He said, “My Lord, I
have work to do.”
Brother Benedict spent the next three hours harvesting vegetables from the monastery garden and making a pot
of vegetable soup for a hungry family of five. He got back to the chapel shortly before ten that night. Jesus was gone.
But, there was a handwritten note on the altar. It read, “Benedict, you live the wisdom I came to give you. Serve the
needy. Always! Right now! Regardless of circumstances.! See you soon in heaven, my bother.”
The spiritual questions of the month for us are these. Are we serving the needy? Do we do it in the moment an
opportunity presents itself, as Jesus and Brother Benedict did. Or, do we procrastinate, often forgetting the person in
need?
My sisters and brothers, let’s fine tune our hearts. When the needy ask, let’s always respond in the moment,
“How may I help you?”
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