Читать книгу At the End of the Day - James W. Moore - Страница 13

This man's self-esteem needed a shot in the arm. All his life, he had been told not only that he was worthless, but also that God had it in for him. Nothing could be further from the truth, but that was the message his world sent him in words and deeds and attitudes. But then, here came Peter and John to tell him that he counted, that he mattered, that he was important, that he was special, that they valued him, but most important, that God loved him.

Some years ago, there was a priest in New York City named Father Joe. Father Joe entered the priesthood after pursuing several colorful careers. He was a soldier in Vietnam, a professional football player, and a singer in a band that never took off. In his midthirties, he decided to go to seminary and train to be a priest. When he was ordained, he was assigned to a parish in South Bronx.

One day, he got into an argument with a cabdriver who had parked in front of the church. One thing led to another, and suddenly Father Joe forgot the thin veneer of his new profession and grabbed the cabbie, pinning him against a fence. The cabbie reached for his knife, but fortunately other people stepped in and broke it up before anyone got hurt. Father Joe was mortified at what he had done and how he had acted. He knew that this was no way for a priest to behave. He was so ashamed, cut to the heart. It was terrible. A few minutes later he had to say Mass with that ugliness, that hate, that anger rising in him.It hurt to pray. He was confused and embarrassed. What does love your neighbor mean? he wondered. He looked up at the cross and knew he had failed. He had not loved his enemy. He had wanted to fight. Father Joe wondered if he was worthy to be a priest.

While he was grappling with his soul, Father Joe had a visitor. Jasmine was her name. Jasmine was a little girl who came by the church every morning to get a glass of milk. Little Jasmine knew nothing of what had happened, but she gave Father Joe something that morning that brought him out of his spiritual crisis. It was a note scribbled with a first-grader's pencil. It read, "Dear Father Joe . . . I love you once, I love you twice, I love you more than beans and rice." That's all, but it was just what Father Joe needed. He read her poem and smiled and understood the larger message, too. Jasmine had reminded him of what's really important. She was an angel that day (a messenger from God). Jasmine reminded him that we are loved and accepted as we are. With all our weaknesses and foibles, God loves us and accepts us just as we are.

That is the message of the Christian faith. Even though we sin, even though we fail, even though we aren't perfect, God doesn't desert us, God doesn't forsake us, and God doesn't give up on us. God still loves us and accepts us, and in so doing, God gives us, by the miracle of his amazing grace, a self we can live with.