Wednesday of the First Week of Advent
December 5, 2007
"Great crowds came to see him (Jesus)"
- Matthew 15:30

G.K. Chesterton said, "The whole world is running after St. Francis." Why would that be so? What was the whole world missing such that it was running after St. Francis to find?

We have our own modern day version of St. Francis in Mother Teresa. Like St. Francis, the world ran to her. I think of a sacred time in Cana of Galilee when the couples on our pilgrimage had renewed their wedding vows. As we were leaving that place we rounded the corner to find several of Mother Teresa’s sisters, The Missionaries of Charity, walking down the road. Strikingly, I watched person after person in our group freely, generously and without hesitation, pull money out of their purses and wallets and give it to the sisters. We were all so drawn to the work and the life of The Missionaries.

What is the draw and why does the world run after the Francis's and Teresa's? The answer is Jesus. They gave people Jesus- the everlasting gift. Great crowds clamored to see Jesus because he wanted to be with, heal and save sinners and he was showing he had the power to do so. He is the eternal life we want to live.

One time a Catholic High School kid told me they learned in school that is does not really matter if you go to church on the weekends and all that matters is how you act during the week. This would be OK thinking if we were trying to establish our own kingdom here but that is not at all the point of being a Christian. We seek, with everything we have, to work with Jesus to establish God's Kingdom. The whole purpose of going to church and praying is to seek union with Jesus who is everlasting life. In all our running after things it is everlasting life we are running after and when we see it incarnated in a person we run to them.

St. Francis and Mother Teresa sought union with Christ in prayer and church. They did not tell Jesus how it was going to be. They let Jesus tell them how it was going to be. Like the Burger King slogan, with all their lives they said to Jesus, "Have it your way! Have it your way, Jesus. With every thought, in every second, in every action, Have it your way!"

As we near Christmas, thoughts of giving presents are on our minds. How about this thought in terms of presents? The greatest present you could give anyone this Christmas or any day or any time is your union with Jesus. There is no greater gift than his life today that will not end.

Pray with St. Francis and Mother Teresa, "Have it your way, Jesus! Have it your way, Jesus. With every thought, in every second, in every action, Have it your way!" But be careful in this prayer because you might see a lot more people running after you.

We are infinitely blessed!

+ Fr. John