The Journey Home…

The Lord puts into my memory and prayer time of a former parishioner whom I fortunately got a wonderful opportunity to know when I was still the parish priest of three parishes in the Texoma region. Even though she is no longer physically with us, and I am sad that her earthly journey ended so soon, I know that she must be happy and joyful to return to the Church and be spiritually prepared for her journey to the eternal heavenly homeland. Her life was not easy nor beautiful like a fairytale, but it was definitely written by God for her as He called her back to Himself and led her home to where her heart and spirit desired.

I met M in an unplanned encounter. She and her family used to go to the Vietnamese parish. Nonetheless, they were not integrated into that parish due to the longer commute distance and their busy work schedule at the nail shop. When I introduced myself to her, and she knew that I could speak Vietnamese, she and her family began to attend Mass at my biggest parish. I then began to notice that she did not receive communion (for a couple of weeks). I did not want to come across as being nosy or awkwardly imposing myself into her situation, so I waited for a few months before approaching her about the subject matter. She told me that she really wants to receive the Eucharist but cannot at the moment because they are not married in the Church, and there are some complications that would have to be reconciled first. I told her that I used to work at the diocesan marriage tribunal, and even though I do not have a degree in Canon Law, I should have enough knowledge and connections to accompany them on the journey to return to the sacraments. I promised that I would walk with them every step of the way until it is rectified.

M was so overjoyed because it was her longtime desire, but could not find help due to their limited English skillset, as well as the hesitation from the Vietnamese priests they tried to solicit assistance. It was a little tricky to get things into order so we can begin both the civil and canonical paperwork so she and her husband can be squared away to begin the marriage preparation process. We worked through things together as I translated everything into Vietnamese for her and her husband, as well as helping them fill out the English-based documents. After a few months, her husband approached me to ask if he could become a Catholic, too, because it had been her desire that they share the sacramental marriage together. It has been his desire, too, but their working circumstances and limited English skills hindered that desire many times.

I found time to have a one-on-one OCIA weekly session with him in Vietnamese. Once they received the proper paperwork to allow them to begin marriage preparation in the Church, we navigated through that in Vietnamese as well. Our class and meeting times were later in the evening since they had to be at work at their shop all day (and stopped by the parish before going home so we often had dinner together while going through the classes). It was a joy to baptize and give him the Sacraments of Initiation and officiate their Wedding Mass — all in Vietnamese! Both of them were so joyful that day, and I felt so blessed to be able to help bring a family back to the fullness of the Church.

M began to ask if she could do something to give back to the parish. She asked if she could donate her time and talent to arrange flowers for Sunday and Holy Day Masses. Oftentimes, she would come late on Friday or the evening before a Holy Day of Obligation and would stay until midnight or so to make sure the altar was filled with beautiful flowers. Our parishioners were always impressed and spoke highly of how it changed our whole aesthetic for the Mass! I offered to pay for the flowers if she would donate their time and talent, but she insisted that it was her gift to God and the Blessed Mother. She would always do those things in silence and behind the scenes, and she said those late nights were great opportunities for her to spend time with the Lord.

She told me that she was sad when I made the announcement that I am preparing to leave the parishes to serve as an active-duty military chaplain. However, she shared with me that she received a vision from the Lord in one of her prayer sessions. She never said what it was, but she as that she has so much peace and joy because it came from God. She was somewhat scared, too, and she asked me to pray for her that she might have the strength to endure His will. I was told later by my former deacon that M passed away after a long but silent struggle with cancer. I was really sad when I heard the news, but I remembered what she told me in one of our last conversations. I offered Mass for the repose of her soul and remembered the journey that brought her back home to the Church.

As we prepare for Christmas with the wonderful season of Advent, I would like to remind each and every one of us that it is never too late to seek God, to learn and discover who we are, what we are made for, how we find solace and consolation in the midst of many different things, and why life is worth living. It is never too late to seek Him, to return to His love, and to rest in the midst of many changing things that pull us all over. Conversion is never a “too late” thing. The only saddest thing in life is to live one going through the motions, unreflected, undiscerned, unsought, and self-centered! The saddest life is one unlived to its fullness in the truth. I have seen many people who are content with what society feeds them and how to be recognized according to materialistic riches and worldly successes, but never spend enough time to reach deep from within to know who they are in the eyes of God. I have seen many people who are so preoccupied and worried about not having enough freedom, money, power, prestige, or the like, always comparing themselves with others. A life that is only worried about what one does not have or what one wanted to have but never had is a life narrowly visioned and filled with pettiness. A life that is occupied and worrying about what one should be doing to push the limit and to make sure that one does not miss out on anything is a life that chases after “more” without knowing what is really satisfactory and gives peace.

Just like M and her journey, as well as all the saints, do not be afraid to seek what is higher than what we think we want or deserve in the now. Do not be afraid to give ourselves in love to the One who created us out of love and for love! Let us not be afraid to hold back, worrying about what we are missing out on or what we do not have, or how others are having it better than us, and that we are pitiful. The greatest joy has always been found on the journey, to walk humbly, honestly, genuinely, and faithfully in love, especially in the love that God has for us. It is never too late to return, to begin, to fall in love, to seek, and to find Him in our lives. He is always there waiting and is only a prayer away. If we would take that one moment to be vulnerable, genuine, transparent, and to really love, we will discover that to really love God and our neighbors is who we are and what we are called to be. Truly, love is both our mission and identity, so let us not be afraid to love as He loves. I would like to simply end this reflection with one of my favorite quotes from St. Augustine: “To fall in love with God is the greatest of romances; to seek Him the greatest adventure; to find Him, the greatest human achievement.”