Monthly Spiritual Message, January 2005
By Fr Tony Fox OFM Conv.
As we recover from the business and religious celebrations of Christmas and New Year and look ahead to the challenges of 2005 what do we see?
We seem to be living in a surreal world at the moment with the pomp and height of New Year with gatherings of enthusiastic people to the devastation of the peoples of Asia ravaged by the results of nature’s tsunami.
As Franciscans or even as Christians, are we able to witness to these situations in a positive and practical way. I think we can.
The other night I was gathered with a few people at a friend’s house and over food and drink the discussion turned to the Asian Disaster.
One comment that emerged and I think is possibly being voiced by some the world over is: “well these effected countries of Asia can afford to loose a few numbers compared to their vast populations. This is nature’s way of culling the human population.”
As I reflected on that comment as much as I was offended and angered by it I could not respond in a negative manner and ride the high horse of the Christian moral ground. That would have been simple enough to do due to the way I was feeling.
Many at the gathering were not believers or fence sitters and so, they knowing I was a priest, all eyes were fixed on me and hush came to the air as they waited anxiously for my response.
All I could share with the group was a human response being that all I could I think of were the devastating effects this disaster has had on so many ordinary human beings who have lost significant members of their individual families. How would I cope? I was also struck by the many testimonies of the tourists who spoke of the generosity, bravery and compassion of the local people.
To me this was a Franciscan response because it is all about touch as Francis met people on mass, it was the personal and individual touch of the Poverello that inspired and attracted people to his Gospel way of life.
Jesus operated in the same way. How does the sight of an individual human affect us?
With regard to these victims – now there you go the word “victims” seems so generic and clinical as a term – but the human face is personal to us.
We prize photographs of those whom we love because they fill us with a reason to go on living. We need to see the likeness of those who make us to be who we are. It is the same for affected brothers and sisters of Asia.
We however also have a Christian sight we need to use. We see Christ in his human flesh through compassion for others whose bodies broadcast need. Jesus reveals Himself to us in these bodies of ours. The hemorrhaging woman (Mk 5:25-34) knew that it was a matter of life or death to make contact with Christ’s body even if it meant coming only as close as his cloak.
As Franciscans our sacramental life is the very core by which we are able to open our eyes to Jesus forsaken, abandoned and reviled.
At every Mass the priest becomes like another John the Baptist as he holds the Sacred Host high saying: “This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Happy are those who are called to his supper.” Why does the celebrant do this?
Because Good must be shown to us in order that we may yield to the inclination that bares us toward it. In the elevated Host the priest shows Goodness to us so that we will make Jesus our full and total focus – so that we may give of ourselves to Him who first calls us.
In the Eucharist we believe in the happiness that is fruit of His Flesh.
When the temptation to fixate on our own feelings takes hold, the Body of Christ comes to our rescue, held up before our face accompanied by the voice of Christ who commands us: “ Behold the Lamb of God. Not your weakness, not your limitations, not your imperfections, not your defects or sins. Behold the one who became flesh for you. Your happiness is here.”
This is Truth that Francis enfleshed in his life. We are challenged to do the same. This is where we find the strength to witness to others in the many ordinary day to day situations where Christ is not known.
You may find yourself in the supermarket, the local servo or a BBQ where you are the only Christians present. Through the wondrous gift of Jesus present in the Eucharist you may physically touch the lives of those seeking Truth.
As we celebrate a New Year of 2005 and leave the old year 2004 behind, we as Franciscans should be able to present to our world and environment True Joy and not be overcome by the melancholy of a world that is disaffected from the true dignity of the human person. This is only possible when we are aware of a vibrant and abiding presence.
The Presence of Christ mystically present in His Church and sacramentally present in the Eucharist. For the gift of His presence we are indebted to the mercy of Christ.
He knows that we cannot really live in the past, but only in the here and now, and so it is in the here and now where He stays with us, promising always and forever to make all things new.
HAPPY NEW YEAR 2005! THE YEAR OF THE EUCHARIST!
Fr. Tony Fox O.F.M.Conv.
National Spiritual Assistant SFO.
