During these eight years of this
ministry some people have been shocked to discover we are human, and will
be fully human until we die. They were shocked because they discovered
that we are not the "perfect" family. We are not without sin, not without
distraction, not without the problems that beset most people today.
Moreover, those who were shocked turned against us, persecuted us, and
never realized that it was God they were striking out against, and
themselves. We were just the handy-dandy instruments in the way of their
own argument with God over His Will vs. their own will.
I sometimes think that that same struggle of God's Will vs. man's will is at the heart
of why there is so much apathy within the Marian movement today. I know that is the reason for this crisis at MIR-A-CALL Center. Is it that we,
as God's Children are, no longer like to think of Him as a Loving, Caring,
and Just Father? Are we, therefore, callused to His Will, and are we, like
so many youth today, locked in a battle of wills, contending for the place
of total control?
Ah, control! Think about that. We like to think we're in control of the
situations of our life, when in reality we control nothing. God's Will is
manifest, and perfect and we, His children, have only to obey. But instead
we rebel, and when we rebel, not only is the symphony off-key and painful
to the ears, but the result is that we wind up hurting our own relationship
with God, and then we hurt others by taking them away from God as well.
What would happen to the Symphony of Suffering if, instead of being
divided, we were all of one mind and heart through the grace of the Holy
Spirit? Now, I'm not saying that there wouldn't be problems, wouldn't be
illness, disease, suffering or sorrow. There would most assuredly be those
things, because we are not in Heaven. However, in this unity of mind and
heart through the grace of the Holy Spirit, we would feel the power of
God's Love ever so vibrantly in our lives, and we would have so much more
love to give to our neighbors. If we cannot share the joys and the
sorrows, then what good is the symphony?
What music reaches God's ears is ours to choose, and while that may seem a
bit far-fetched, I ask you if it really is? Are we not, by our very being,
contributing to the Symphony of Suffering, for no man is exempt from
suffering. Are we not, by our very existence, contributing to the Symphony
that glorifies God at every moment?
Yet, we have free will. We can choose, and often times we do choose, to
be disobedient children of God. We go our own way, and tell God to tend to
His own business but not to bother us.
When we behave this way, we're telling the entire population of the earth
that we don't care about them, either. You see, only when we're in perfect
harmony with God's Will, striving to do His Will in loving, simple, humble
obedience, are we then able to reach out and listen to, help and love our
neighbors, wherever they may be. We were meant to help one another.
Now, as Michael and I continue to take life just one second, one minute at
a time, our Hope and Trust is in God, for He has the answers. We know that
we do not. Our job is obedience to Him in all things. That obedience
means accepting, even if we do not understand the why, that our son is now
"damaged" goods as far as society is concerned. We accept, although we do
not understand, that the ministry He entrusted to us in 1990 may very well
disappear because so few cared enough to give of themselves to help it.
Both Mike and I do want to acknowledge those who have responded and contributed
from their heart. Every little bit keeps us going another day, able to reach more souls throughout
this world now called cyberspace. Over the years our ministry has changed in function, but never
has it changed in focus or direction. But with the growing costs, I am very serious that we are in
dire straits without the financial help of those who care. No matter what ministry it might be, if it
is for advancing God's Will through His Holy Church, than it is a ministry which comes under the responsibility of all. Ministries that come from God, ministries that are given back to God,
never cease but exist within His Infinite Plan. But to those to whom He
gave the ministry---not just those to whom He instructed, but those He wished
to be instructed - will have to explain to Him why they chose to lose such a
gift, such a treasure, such a grace that He wished to give.
Last week I spoke of Father's Day. The greatest gifts that we had to give to 'Dad' were, first
and foremost, the Love of God, and secondly, our love for him as father, as
husband, as provider, protector, problem-solver, the man of many hats with
the face that still takes my breath away.
We did not have 'presents' with pretty wrapping, nor cards with lovely
messages tucked into scented envelopes. There was no Sunday brunch to take
him to, no "outing" for him that day. For us, it was a day given to God,
for it is the Sabbath above all else, and in caring, as best we were able,
for our sons, particularly our oldest in his fragile condition, and simply
loving one another with our deeds of charity, more than anything else.
What, I wonder, did you find out about yourself, your dad, your
relationship with God the Father on this past Father's Day. Did you add to
the Symphony in a chord or melody that blended perfectly? I pray that was
so. I pray that our own Symphony was found pleasing before the Throne of
the Triune Divinity.
For all of us, may we all work a bit harder in the weeks to come to make
sure that our Symphony of Suffering is not off-key, but rather one octave
closer to the Supreme Concert that we will hear when we, one day, meet our
Heavenly Father, and the suffering will be joy forever!