This was my question as I rode the train home last night. Who was that person, that stranger that reached out to me? Was it Jesus perhaps, or was it one of his messengers?
My evening began at the second floor classroom adjacent to the Chapel. The Men's Spirituality Group was meeting for the second of a six week Lenten program called, ARISE Together in Christ http:///www.renewintl.org/rcab
When the meeting started at 5:30PM, there were four men present and Fr. Frank, who leads the group. The topic for week two was God's Beloved which focuses on the theme of this upcoming Sunday's Gospel of the Transfiguration, where Jesus takes three disciples up a mountain with him and out of a cloud they hear a voice that says, "This is my beloved Son, Listen to Him."
After the opening prayer we were going around the table describing our experiences from the past week basically answering the question of what did you put in practice after last week's session. We then read a short reflection from the book and were in the process of answering one of the two questions posed. The majority focused on answering the first one which was to share an experience in which you felt that you were taken to another place, another time.
As we were in the process of doing this the door opened an in entered a tall gangly man who appeared to be in his late thirties. We were momentarily interrupted as he introduced himself to Fr. Frank and then Father introduced us all to him. This was the first time attending our meeting. As I extended my hand for a handshake, I felt that my hand was being swallowed very firmly by his. He sat to my right slightly behind me. Everybody had finished sharing including Father and he allowed a few moments to see if our newcomer would like to say something. Excusing himself as being rather shy, he didn't hesitate to offer this beautiful, touching and oh so vivid description of his recent breakup. He was moved to tell us this after seeing the word 'breaking' from Breaking God's Story that was in the book. I was moved by how calmly he spoke in describing and in painting for me/us a picture of this loving couple gently holding hands while gazing into each other's eyes and then parting amicably. It was oh so touching, oh so peaceful, oh so loving.
At the start Father handed us a sheet with next Sunday's Gospel reading and we now proceeded to hear the Gospel that was being read by Steve. After reflecting on this we were told to share what word, or phrase, or image from the reading that touched us, that spoke to us. I noticed that our newcomer, Bill, had taken out his i-phone and was in the process of dowloading that Scripture passage (apparently there were no more hard copies left) when once again in his very soft yet authoritative and clear voice was expounding on what someone else had shared. I turned slightly to my right to give him my attention and saw the i-phone on his lap and then I looked down and noticed that his sneakers were being held together with what appeared to be electrical tape. It struck me kind of funny that someone dressed as if he might be living in a shelter would have this new fangled device. Because of his late arrival we new very little about him other than his name.
Continuing on we read the last and lenghtiest reflection and were given the option of answering one of three question provided. All seemed to have focused on the one that asked what prevents people from believing in God's unconditional love for them
While I was answering the first question I somehow incorporated the fact about my wife's mental illness. As soon as he heard this as if touched by my plight he said again with that mesmerizing voice that he would include this in his Gratitude prayer that night. As I looked over to thank him, I noticed that he taken out a black bound book which looked like a journal. The pages were open and my eyes were drawn to two pink cut outs in the shape of hearts with something written on them on the left page and the beautiful handwritten text that flowed over the right-hand page. I would later see how the whole book was filled with very neat writing. It reminded me of the works of the ancient monks. Bill would refer to the writings coming from the Ignatian spirituality and that he would include me in the gratitude for this day prayers.
I don't know what it was in him that so touched me. I thought if I ever were to make a film about Jesus, Bill would be the guy I would pick to play that role. As we were leaving I turned to Bill and noticed that he was bent down in the opposite direction putting some things in his back pack. I wanted to shake hands with him before I left but I ended touching his fore arm and I said thanks and left to go and catch my train. I don't know what he did but when he talked to me he put me at ease whatever turbulence had been going through me the past few days seemed to have been lifted and it started when he said that he would pray for me.
After I kept asking myself, "Did I meet Jesus?"Was Bill sent to me to relieve my fears? It certainly seems so.
I hope that he comes next week because I want to thank him and hopefully find out a little more about him.
My evening began at the second floor classroom adjacent to the Chapel. The Men's Spirituality Group was meeting for the second of a six week Lenten program called, ARISE Together in Christ http:///www.renewintl.org/rcab
When the meeting started at 5:30PM, there were four men present and Fr. Frank, who leads the group. The topic for week two was God's Beloved which focuses on the theme of this upcoming Sunday's Gospel of the Transfiguration, where Jesus takes three disciples up a mountain with him and out of a cloud they hear a voice that says, "This is my beloved Son, Listen to Him."
After the opening prayer we were going around the table describing our experiences from the past week basically answering the question of what did you put in practice after last week's session. We then read a short reflection from the book and were in the process of answering one of the two questions posed. The majority focused on answering the first one which was to share an experience in which you felt that you were taken to another place, another time.
As we were in the process of doing this the door opened an in entered a tall gangly man who appeared to be in his late thirties. We were momentarily interrupted as he introduced himself to Fr. Frank and then Father introduced us all to him. This was the first time attending our meeting. As I extended my hand for a handshake, I felt that my hand was being swallowed very firmly by his. He sat to my right slightly behind me. Everybody had finished sharing including Father and he allowed a few moments to see if our newcomer would like to say something. Excusing himself as being rather shy, he didn't hesitate to offer this beautiful, touching and oh so vivid description of his recent breakup. He was moved to tell us this after seeing the word 'breaking' from Breaking God's Story that was in the book. I was moved by how calmly he spoke in describing and in painting for me/us a picture of this loving couple gently holding hands while gazing into each other's eyes and then parting amicably. It was oh so touching, oh so peaceful, oh so loving.
At the start Father handed us a sheet with next Sunday's Gospel reading and we now proceeded to hear the Gospel that was being read by Steve. After reflecting on this we were told to share what word, or phrase, or image from the reading that touched us, that spoke to us. I noticed that our newcomer, Bill, had taken out his i-phone and was in the process of dowloading that Scripture passage (apparently there were no more hard copies left) when once again in his very soft yet authoritative and clear voice was expounding on what someone else had shared. I turned slightly to my right to give him my attention and saw the i-phone on his lap and then I looked down and noticed that his sneakers were being held together with what appeared to be electrical tape. It struck me kind of funny that someone dressed as if he might be living in a shelter would have this new fangled device. Because of his late arrival we new very little about him other than his name.
Continuing on we read the last and lenghtiest reflection and were given the option of answering one of three question provided. All seemed to have focused on the one that asked what prevents people from believing in God's unconditional love for them
While I was answering the first question I somehow incorporated the fact about my wife's mental illness. As soon as he heard this as if touched by my plight he said again with that mesmerizing voice that he would include this in his Gratitude prayer that night. As I looked over to thank him, I noticed that he taken out a black bound book which looked like a journal. The pages were open and my eyes were drawn to two pink cut outs in the shape of hearts with something written on them on the left page and the beautiful handwritten text that flowed over the right-hand page. I would later see how the whole book was filled with very neat writing. It reminded me of the works of the ancient monks. Bill would refer to the writings coming from the Ignatian spirituality and that he would include me in the gratitude for this day prayers.
I don't know what it was in him that so touched me. I thought if I ever were to make a film about Jesus, Bill would be the guy I would pick to play that role. As we were leaving I turned to Bill and noticed that he was bent down in the opposite direction putting some things in his back pack. I wanted to shake hands with him before I left but I ended touching his fore arm and I said thanks and left to go and catch my train. I don't know what he did but when he talked to me he put me at ease whatever turbulence had been going through me the past few days seemed to have been lifted and it started when he said that he would pray for me.
After I kept asking myself, "Did I meet Jesus?"Was Bill sent to me to relieve my fears? It certainly seems so.
I hope that he comes next week because I want to thank him and hopefully find out a little more about him.
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